DUKE 
UNIVERSITY 


DIVINITY  SCHOOL 
LIBRARY 


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in  2013 


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History  of 

■ 

Rocky  River  Baptist  Church 


By  E.  M.  BROOKS 


1928 


121606 


■ft, 

■ 

-■■'    ■ 

Foreword 


• 


■/ 


This  little  book  is  a  labor  of  love.  It  is  unpretentious 
in  every  way  save  as.  a  record  of  facts  of  Rocky  River 
Church  and  things  Denominational  in  North  Carolina. 

To  call  it  a  History  may  be  a  too  high-sounding  title. 
Yet,  it  is  much  more  than  a  history  of  one  local  Church. 
Some  hitherto  unpublished  facts  are  brought  out  and 
established  that  should  be  of  a  more  general  interest. 
There  is  a  short  sketch  of  every  old  Pastor,  Deacon, 
Church  Clerk  and  original  Family  constituting  the  Church 
in  its  early  days. 

This  being  a  Mother  of  Churches  she  has  left  to 
Posterity  a  number  of  Offsprings.  Some  have  been 
obedient  to  the  Faith  and  some  have  not.  These  have 
been  considered  at  some  length. 

When  several  hundred  friends  have  read  and  Bequeath- 
ed to  their  children  copies  of  this  little  "History  of  Old 
Rocky  River  Church,"  the  Purpose  of  the  writer  will  have 
been  attained. 


History  of  The  Rocky  River  Baptist  Church       3 


■■—- 


CHAPTER  I. 


THE  CHURCH'S  ORIGIN  AND  EARLY  DAYS. 


Lack  of  Records — First  Book  Lost  or  Misplaced — 

Present  Church  Book  Begins  April  the  5th, 

1828 — First  Preachers  and  First 

Settlers. 


Organization  and  First  Pastors. 

Rocky  River  Missionary  Baptist  Church, 
Anson  County,  North  Carolina,  was  organized  in 
the  year  1776.  The  founder  of  the  church  un- 
known. The  founding  of  the  church  has  been 
credited  traditionally  to  Hon.  and  Rev.  John  Cul- 
peper,  Sr.  But  Mr.  Culpeper  being  born  in  the 
year  1764,  and  his  father,  Samson  Culpeper,  mov- 
ing to  Georgia  when  young  John  was  only 
twelve  years  of  age,  and  not  returning  till  he  was 
twenty,  puts  these  dates  too  close  together  to 
justify  this  tradition.  He  was  an  early  pastor 
and  the  church  was  often  designated  locally  as 
"Culpeper's  Meeting  House."  His  return  from 
Georgia  was  in  1784,  and  not  till  then  could  he 
have  been  pastor. 

How  soon  after  this  date  he  took  charge  of 
the  church  is  unknown.  Old  folks  in  the  church 
community  used  to  say  that  'he  was  pastor  for 
more  than  fifty  years.  This  was  not  only  possible 
but  highly  probable.  For  in  the  oldest  church 
book  preserved  no  former  pastor  is  ever  mention- 
ed. From  other  sources  it  is  known  that  Elder 
Edmond  Lilly  was  pastor  in  1790.  The  church 
records  show  that  Elder  Culpeper  was  pastor  up 


121606 


History  of  The  Rocky 


to  a  few  weeks  before  his  death  in  January,  1841. 
And,  if  he  immediately  followed  Elder  Lilly,  ne 
could  have  been  pastor  for  the  reputed  fifty 
years. 


Its  Location  and  Why. 

The  Church  is  located  in  what  is  known  as 
upper  Anson,  or  the  North-west  corner  of  the 
county,  seven  miles  West  of  Ansonville. 

The  first  meeting  house  was  built  near  the 
stream  of  Rocky  River,  whence  its  name,  on 
what  is  now  the  farm  of  the  late  Frank  Gaddy. 
Inis  was  once  the  largest  farm  in  the  neighbor- 
hood containing  about  eighteen  hundred  acres. 
Its  original  owner  was  "Rocky  River"  Bill  Lee, 
the  oldest  of  that  name  so  far  as  known.  The 
building  stood  on  a  slight  elevation  some  three 
hundred  yards  from  the  river.  Here  the  Cul- 
pepers  built  a  home  not  more  than  one  hundred 
yards  from  the  Meeting  House.  Or,  very  likely 
lived  here  before  Samson  Culpeper  moved  to 
Georgia,  as  John  Sr.  and  John  Jr.,  son  and  grand- 
son of  Samson,  were  both  born  in  Anson  county. 

Later,  the  church  building  was  moved  one- 
half  mile  further  from  the  river  southward.  It 
had  remained  at  the  first  site  long  enough  for  a 
burying  ground  to  be  laid  off  and  a  number  of 
graves  made  for  both  white  and  colored.  The 
graveyard  was  placed  midway  between  the  church 
site  and  the  Culpeper  home.  The  well  used  at 
the  home  was  only  recently  filled  and  is  now,  of 
course,  out  of  use. 

The  third  site  is  a  mile  and  one-half  from 
the  river.  The  two  first  sites  were  on  the  Lee 
farm.  The  third  later  was  attached  to  it  by 
purchase,  but  at  the  time  of  its  location  thought 
to  be  from  the  lands  of  Wyatt  Nance,  a  Clerk  of 


River  Baptist  Church 


the  Church.  The  building  at  this  site  was  a 
large  frame  structure  erected  to  care  for  both 
iwhite  and  colored.  A  row  of  posts  running  the 
length  of  the  building  was  the  only  partition  be- 
tween master  and  slave.  The  windows  had  plank 
ishutters  save  the  one  behind  the  pulpit,  it  had 
lights.  No  stove  was  ever  used.  Fires  in  extreme 
cold  weather  were  built  out  of  doors. 

The  fourth  site  is  in  the  same  campus  on  a 
higher  elevation  and  was  from  the  Darling  Allen 
lands.  The  present  building  was  put  up  about 
1882.  Before  this  there  had  stood  a  large  "Ar- 
bor" where  all  special  meetings  such  as  Annual 
Revival  meetings,  associations  and  so  forth  were 
held.  It  served  a  good  purpose  and  many  hated 
to  give  it  up,  even  though  it  was  replaced  by  a 
new  church  building.  The  place  was  famous  for 
the  great  crowds  attending  these  special  meet- 
ings under  the  old  Arbor.  Many  prominent  men 
of  the  long  ago  preached  from  the  rustic  old 
pulpit.  The  Culpepers,  father  and  son,  Edmond 
Lilly,  Edmond  Lilly  Davis,  S.  P.  Morton,  W.  A. 
Morris,  Dwight  Hayes,  Robert  Furman,  N.  B. 
Cobb,  and  others.  The  old  Arbor  stood  on  after 
these  had  passed  away.  It  waited  to  serve  an- 
other generation.  Then  came  N.  R.  Pittman, 
H.  W.  Battle,  C.  L.  Greaves  and  others.  It  was 
under  this  Arbor  that  Bro.  Pittman  held  the 
greatest  revival  remembered  by  any  now  living. 
It  was  in  the  year  1882.  Nor  did  they  preach  in 
vain,  for  this  church  once  had  a  large  membership 
and  was  known  far  and  near. 

No  church  of  any  denomination  seems  to  have 
been  in  existence  within  twenty-five  or  thirty 
miles  of  Rocky  River  at  the  time  of  its  founding 
in  1776.  The  nearest  known  church  was  that 
of  Rocky  River  Presbyterian  Church,  on  Rocky 


History  of  The  Rocky 


River  near  Harrisburg,  Cabarrus  County.  This 
is  mentioned  in  their  church  history  in  1754. 
The  nearest  Baptist  seems  to  have  been  the 
Sandy  Creek,  in  Randolph,  and  possibly  one  or 
two  others  in  that  section. 

A  church  so  hoary  with  age,  though  weak 
and  tottering  now,  and  not  promising  so  much 
as  in  the  past,  should  still  have  the  respect  and 
good  will  of  all  right  thinking  people,  and,  may 
it  be  said?  have  their  financial  aid  should  the 
time  ever  come  when  the  church  cannot  exist 
without  it. 

Why  the  Location?  It  was  not  on  any  main 
thoroughfare  of  that  time.  The  neighbors  lived 
far  apart.  Most  of  them  owned  large  plantations. 
They  had  slaves  but  few  tenants.  There  must 
have  been  a  reason.  What  was  it?  It  could 
have  been  one  of  several. 

First — "There  was  much  water  there."  The 
church  is  surrounded  by  three  living  streams: 
Rocky  River  on  the  North;  Lanes  Creek  on  the 
East;  Cribbs  Creek,  two  hundreds  yards  to  the 
W'est.  The  little,  clear,  Cribbs  Creek  has  been 
the  one  and  only  baptistery  of  the  church  for 
more  than  a  hundred  years. 

Second — It  was  and  is  a  good  farming  section. 
Though  there  are  hills,  there  are  also  some  very 
fertile  bottoms  on  each  of  the  streams  noted 
above. 

Third — and  perhaps  the  main  reason,  was  the 
fine  type  of  the  original  settlers  who  were  to 
compose  and  sustain  the  church. 

The  question  might  be  asked,  was  the  church 
located  here  because  of  the  people,  or  did  the 
people  move  here  because  there  was  a  church 
here.  Both  could  be  true.  Some  good  families 
were  here   to  begin   with,   while    others   moved 


River  Baptist  Church 


'here  to  be  near  a  church.  First  and  last  but  few 
churches  have  been  surrounded  by  finer  old  fami- 
lies than  this  church.  Several  of  them,  however, 
have  become  extinct. 


History  of  The  Rocky 


CHAPTER  II. 


THE  OLD  SCHOOL-HOUSE  IN  THE  GROVE. 


Had   a  Sacredness  Not   Common  'To  All  School 

Buildings — Stood  a  Long  Time  and  Served  a 

Purpose — A  School  Anecdote  or  Two. 


About  thirty  yards  from  the  Arbor  stood 
the  community  school-house.  It  was  a  sub- 
stantial framed  building  without  modern  con- 
veniences. There  was  a  chimney  in  the  East 
end,  one  window  with  a  plank  shutter,  a  door  on 
both  the  North  and  South  sides.  In  the  West 
end  was  provided  a  writing  shelf  made  of  a 
broad  plank  hinged  on  so  that  when  not  in  use 
it  was  kept  upright  and  formed  a  part  of  the 
wall.  In  extreme  cold  weather  only  the  South 
door  was  allowed  open  which  furnished  the  only 
light  the  teacher  and  students  could  get.  When 
the  sessions  were  in  the  early  fall  or  summer 
the  old  Arbor  near-by  was  used  and  made  an  ideal 
place  as  they  thought,  for  school  purposes.  The 
larger  boys  would  often  go  up  in  the  big  pulpit 
to  work  their  arithmetic.  When  compelled  to 
use  the  house  and  the  weather  was  open,  the  boys 
resorted  to  the  sunnyside  of  a  hill  nearby,  re- 
turning their  work  to  the  teacher  at  convenient 
times.  If  raining,  and  compelled  to  stay  in,  no 
difficult  problems  were  solved  that  day.  When 
a  boy  was  allowed  to  study  out  of  doors,  it  meant 
be  was  either  a  mighty  good  boy  or  a  senior. 
They  were  all  regarded  as  upper  classmen. 

This  building  was  used  for  at  least  seventy- 


- 


«jtifcir ' 


River  Baptist  Church 


five  years  without  change  or  enlargement.  It 
stood  for  several  years  after  its  days  of  service. 
Notwithstanding  its  poor  equipment  students  at- 
tended from  other  parts  of  Anson  and  from 
Stanly,  some  even  hoarding  in  the  neighborhood 
to  get  what  they  thought  the  best  school  in  reach. 

Quite  a  number  of  the  teachers  of  that  day 
taught  here.  Washington  Mask,  Watt  Allen,  S. 
P.  Morton,  Miss  Belle  Strother,  a  refugee  from 
Virginia,  taught  during  the  War.  Later  teachers 
were  Eliza  and  Mary  Brooks,  John  A.  Kendall, 
Esquire  Tom  Hyatt  and  others.  The  free  schools 
lasted  then  for  only  four  to  six  weeks.  This 
•was  usually  followed  by  a  subscription  session  of 
about  the  same  length.  For  a  public  teacher  to 
get  one  dollar  a  day  was  regarded  as  exorbitant. 
Subscriptions  ran  around  one  dollar  a  month  per 
scholar. 

The  following  is  a  copy  of  a  school  roll  found 
in  the  papers  of  Washington  Marshall  Allen.  This 
school  was  taught  before  the  War,  as  Mr.  Allen 
served  as  a  private  throughout  the  entire  war. 
He  lost  his  health  in  a  prison  camp  and  died  im- 
mediately on  returning  home  after  the  surrender. 
He  had  intended  making  teaching  his  life  work. 
This  is  another  instance  of  how  war  cuts  short 
the  hopes  and  aspirations  of  noble  young  man- 
hood. The  Roll  follows: 
Edmond  J.  Threadgill  Lucy  Lee 
William  F.  Crump  Patrick  C.  Lee 

Robert  H.  Allen  Richard  Lee 

T  ,,,    A11  Charles  D.  Lee 

James  M.  Allen  Elizabeth  Lee 

James  F.  Crump  Charlotte  Lee 

James  Broadaway  George  D.  Lee 

Thomas  H.  Brooks  Mary  A.  Threadgill 

Alex  T.  Allen  Martha  J.  High 


10  History  of  The  Rocky 

Sofronia  Allen  James  Darling  High 

Mary  Avitt  John  Staton 

Sarah  Avitt  Isabella  Brooks 

Frances  Avitt  Caroline  Brooks 

John  Avitt  Susan  Brooks 

Steven  Lee  John  W.  Turner 

George  Lee  William  P.  Davis 

Nancy  Lee  Hampton  Davis 

Of  the  above  list  only  two  are  living.  They 
are  Mrs.  Martha  J.  High  (Turner) ;  and  Mrs. 
Charlotte  Lee  (Thompson). 

If  the  'boys  and  girls  didn't  learn  much  they 
got  some  remuneration  from  the  fun  they  had 
on  the  "sly."  It  had  to  be  on  the  sly.  Teachers 
were  more  rigid  then.  They  had  but  few  things 
to  give  but  discipline  was  one  of  them. 

Once  when  Elder  Samuel  P.  Morton  was  in 
charge,  a  big  boy  needed  the  rod  of  correction, 
and  as  was  the  custom  with  teachers,  sent  the 
boy  out  with  his  knife  to  get  the  switch.  While 
out  the  boy  pealed  the  loose  bark  off  a  pine  log 
and  lined  the  inside  of  'his  shirt,  thus  forming  an 
armor  against  the  impending  switching  by  the 
teacher.  The  boy  deliberately  walked  and  handed 
the  switches  to  the  teacher,  turning  around  and 
bending  over  apparently  in  perfect  submission 
and  humility  to  receive  his  just  desert.  Uncle 
Sammy  was  in  the  right  mood  to  proceed  and  be- 
gan letting  the  rod  fall  fast  and  heavy.  But 
what  a  noise?  Was  he  killing  the  (boy  or  not? 
Nobody  understood;  not  even  the  teacher.  Too 
much  thunder  for  the  lightning  he  thought.  A 
careful  examination  revealed  the  facts.  Uncle 
Sammy  was  outwitted.    The  boy  went  free. 

But  again  the  same  boy  offended.  He  was 
given  to  fun.  It  was  his  main  purpose  in  going 
to   school.     He  was   good   hearted;   the   teacher 


River  Baptist  Church  11 

loved  him.  But  he  must  be  punished;  he  might 
ruin  others.  This  time  Uncle  Sammy  gave  orders 
for  quiet  and  this  time  went  out  after  the  switch 
himself.  On  returning  "Snole"  couldn't  be  found. 
None  would  explain.  The  teacher  finally  thought 
of  the  big  old  chimney  as  a  possible  hiding  place 
He  was  sure  enough  up  there.  He  was  given  or- 
ders to  slide  down.  This  he  did  to  the  amusement 
of  teacher  as  well  as  pupils.  Again  he  had  out- 
witted Uncle  Sammy.  He  went  home  none  the 
worse  save  the  mark  of  Ham  upon  his  features. 
He  was  as  black  as  any  slave  on  his  father's 
farm. 

Yet  'tis  said  the  boys  and  girls  were  better, 
then. 


12  History  of  The  Rocky 


CHAPTER  III. 


HOME-COMING  AND  CENTENNIAL,  1927. 


A  Big  Day;  A  Quickening  Of  Tender  Memories; 
An  Inspiration  To  Many. 


The  Centennial  held  at  the  church  the  fifth 
Sunday  in  July,  1927,  was  perhaps  the  most 
memorable  clay  in  the  church's  history.  It  had 
been  in  the  plans  of  friends  for  several  years. 
Great  preparations  had  been  made.  All  living 
former  pastors  and  former  members  had  been 
urged  to  be  present.  A  cornet  band  of  Wadesboro 
had  volunteered  its  services,  several  quartets  on 
hand  to  take  part,  a  number  of  full  church  choirs 
also.  A  long  table  prepared  in  the  grove  for  the 
noon  feast,  parking  space  provided  for  hundreds 
of  cars,  marshalls  appointed  to  arrange  for  the 
comfort  and  convenience  of  visitors,  and,  last  but 
not  least,  a  splendid  program  arranged  to  help 
make  the  day  a  happy  and  profitable  one. 

The  seats  were  placed  in  the  grove  near  a 
large  stand  prepared  for  the  speakers  and  choirs. 
Nothing  seemed  lacking.  Only  one  thing  was 
feared — what  about  the  weather?  No  local 
weather  prophet  would  risk  a  venture.  Why? 
"It  had  been  said  of  old  time  it  always  rains  at 
the  July  Meeting."  But  it  didn't,  and  such  a  day 
and  such  a  crowd ! 

For  the  information  of  friends  who  could  not 
be  there,  the  program  is  given  in  full  below.  It 
was  carried  out  to  the  letter  ;save  the  part  assign- 
ed to  Rev.  C.  H.  Martin,  who  failed  to  come.    Oth- 


"River  Baptist  Church  13 

•ers  not  on  the  program  were  used,  including  the 
venerable  General  William  A.  Smith,  of  Anson- 
ville,  and  Mr.  John  A.  Kendall. 


Program 
Home-Coming  and  Centennial  Exercises  at 

Rocky  River  Church. 
All  old  friend?,  including  former  members, 
each  living  pastor  and  friends  of  all  other  church- 
es are  most  cordially  invited  to  attend  Home- 
coming and  Centennial  Exercises  at  Old  Rocky 
River  Church,  Anson  County,  on  Sunday,  July  31, 
1927.  This  will  be  the  One  Hundred  and  Fifty- 
First  Anniversary  of  the  Church's  History. 

Every  visiting  family  is  requested  to  bring  a 
basket  of  dinner  as  a  public  feast  is  to  foe  spread 
.and  thousands  of  friends  are  expected  to  be  on 
hand.     Following  is  the 

Program : 
10:30  a.  m. — Song,   "How  Firm  a  Foundation." 
Scripture  reading,  I  Tim.  3:1-16. 
Song,   "When   the   Roll   Is   Called  Up 
iTonder." 
.11:00   a.    m. — Reading   Sketch    of   the   Church's 
History,  by  E.  M.  Brooks. 
Recognition  of  old  pastors. 
The  Stovall  Quartet  of  Albemarle. 
12-1 :30 — Dinner  and  Social  Period. 
1:35  p.  m. — Song  by  Rocky  Mount  Choir. 
1:40  p.  m. — The  Condition  of  this  Country  in 
1776,  by  Rev.  C.  H.  Martin,  of  Polkton. 
1:55  p.  m.— Song,  "My  Country  Tis  of  Thee." 
2:00  p.  m. — Special,  by  Thompson  Quartet. 
2:05  p.  m.— The  Church  as  I  Knew  it  1887-89, 

by  Rev.  A.  Marsh,  of  Marshville. 
2:00  p.  m. — Song,  by  the  Wade  Choir  of  Wades- 
fooro. 


History  of  The  Rocky 


2:55  p.  m. — Some  Products  of  the  Old  Country 
Church,  by  Hon.  T.  L.  Caudle. 

2 :45  p.  m. — Songs  'by  Red  Hill  and  Cedar  Grove 
Choirs. 

3:30  to  close — Song  Selections  at  the  will  of  the 
Choirs  present. 


The  cornet  band  led  the  first  and  last  song 
and  furnished  music  at  the  noon  hour.  Thus 
ended  a  great  day  with  the  Lord's  people  at 
Rocky  River.  This  Centennial  was  followed  by 
the  annual  revival  meeting.  The  results  were 
the  baptism  of  eight  fine  young  people  and  a 
revival  in  our  own  hearts. 


The  Present  Status  Of  The  Church. 

The  church  is  not  strong  and  flourishing  as  it 
used  to  be.  There  are  contributing  causes  beyond 
the  power  of  the  church  to  control.  In  the  past 
there  were  men  of  wealth  and  influence  in  its 
membership.  These  are  gone.  The  families 
were  large  and  it  did  not  take  many  to  furnish 
a  good  congregation.  Now  the  families  for  the 
most  part  are  not  so  large.  It  takes  folks  to 
make  a  crowd.  The  church  hasn't  got  them. 
The  young  people  are  like  young  people  every- 
where, their  minds  have  turned  towards  the 
towns  and  other  callings  than  farming. 

Education  makes  young  people  more  capable 
to  enter  the  business  or  professional  life.  They 
hunger  for  it  and  go.  No  one  can  hinder  them, 
nor  perhaps  should  they  try.  Schools  and  col- 
leges are  keeping  them  away  from  home  even 
before  they  enter  business.  Who  would  have  it 
otherwise?  But  it  leaves  a  problem  on  the  coun- 
try pastor's  hands  hard  to  solve. 

Just  as  there  is  a  derth  of  the  old  fashion 


River  Baptist  Church  15 

country  doctors;  there  may  be  a  derth  of  coun- 
try-loving pastors.  If  so,  the  church  has  a  prob- 
lem, too. 

Though  the  above  things  are  true,  there  is 
still  reasons  for  carrying  on  for  the  Lord  at  the 
old  church.  The  young  people  are  bright  and 
talented  and  willing.  The  church  has  never  gone 
pastorless  nor  without  a  Sunday  school. 


16  History  of  The  Rocky 


CHAPTER  IV. 


THE  "SPLIT"— 1834-1844. 


Internal  Strife  Over  Missions- — Fellowship  Lost — • 
Course  Pursued — Church  "Arms"  Involved. 


A  Motherly  Old  Church. 

She  may  not  have  teen  like  unto  a  "Bee-Hive" 
in  general  activity  but,  in  the  matter  of  "Swarm- 
ing" she  has  surpassed  any  of  her  neighbors. 

Jerusalem,  six  miles  to  the  west  on  Richard- 
son's Creek,  was  an  "Arm"  for  years.  They  co- 
operated with  the  mother  church  all  the  while 
till  divided  by  the  question  of  missions.  It  was 
here  on  the  13th  day  of  October,  1832  that  John 
Culpeper,  Jr.,  was  ordanied  by  a  presbytery  from 
Rocky  River  Church.  The  Mother  church  sought 
their  welfare  and  fellowship  till  1844.  It  might 
be  interesting  to  give  the  Church  Minutes  in  full 
for  that  meeting.    It  follows: 

"1844 — Conference  Friday  before  the  4th 
Lord's  Day  in  July,  Elder  J.  Davis  preached  from. 
Acts  11th,  and  part  of  28  verse.  The  church  met 
in  conference.    A  door  was  opened.    None  joined. 

Brother  Robert  N.  Allen  reported  that  he  had 
conversed  with  the  following  persons  to-wit: 
Robertson  Pistole,  Wyatt  Nance,  Ephriam  New- 
som  and  Carey  Tolson  who  all  said  they  wanted 
their  names  taken  off  the  church  book,  and  did 
not  consider  themselves  members  of  this  church. 
Brother  Uriah  Staton  made  a  similar  statement 
as  to  Ann  Baucom.  On  motion  the  above  delin- 
quent members  where  excluded." 


Washington  Allen,  Teacher 


River  Baptist  Church  17 

Another  committe  had  been  to  labor  with  them 
previous  to  this  but  without  results.  From  now 
on  this  Arm  was  openly  and  avowedly  anti-mis- 
sion and  is  to  this  day  of  1927.  There  has  been 
secured  from  Jerusalem  church  a  document  from 
their  first  church  records  that  comes  in  well  at 
this  point.  It  deserves  a  careful  reading,  and  a 
comparison  made  with  the  minutes  copied  above 
will  be  seen  to  require  a  rather  careful  interpreta- 
tion. This  document  is  given  below: 
"North  Carolina,  Anson  County. 
September  1st,  1833. 

As  there  has  originated  grievances,  distresses 
amongst  the  Baptist  churches  and  thereby  union 
and  fellowship  being  broke  by  this  departure  from 
the  faith  by  the  new  inventions  or  institutions 
of  the  day  which  are  unscriptural,  and  for  union 
and  fellowship  for  those  who  wish  to  take  the 
Scripture  for  their  guide  and  withstand  the  errors 
brought  in  by  filthy  lucre  hunters  and  hirelings 
of  the  present  day ;  Resolved,  as  such,  we  formal- 
ly part  of  the  Church  called  Rocky  River  Church, 
believing  that  part  of  the  church  with  the  pastor 
has  by  said  inventions  and  institutions  of  the 
day  revolted  from  the  Scriptures,  the  original 
standard  of  the  Baptist  as  hitherto  united; 

Do  for  these  reasons  feel  hound  by  the  author- 
ity of  God's  word  to  withdraw  from  every  one 
that  walks  disorderly  after  the  traditions  of  men, 
and  not  after  the  commandments  of  Christ  in  said 
church,  or,  any  other  church  or  churches  of  the 
Baptist  denomination,  and  not  to  eat  with  them, 
but  come  out  from  among  them  and  touch  not, 
taste  not,  nor  handle  not  for  all  are  to  perish  by 
using  for  doctrine  and  customs  the  command- 
ments of  and  traditions  of  men.  And  to  be  separ- 
ated from  them  according  to  God's  word. 


History  of  The  Rocky 


Accordingly  having  read  these  resolutions  be- 
fore the  church,  on  the  day  and  date  above, 
openly,  as  such  we  have  met  at  Jerusalem  Meet- 
ing House,  Anson  County,  North  Carolina  on 
Saturday  before  the  second  Lord's  Day  in  Novem- 
ber A.  D.,  1833,  consulted  our  peace  and  prin- 
ciples, and  thereby  united  in  Covenant  by  giving 
ourselves  to  one  another  in  fear  of  God  and  the 
Lord." 

(Signed)  Wyatt  Nance,  Carey  Tolson,. 
Robert  Pistol,  Ephriam  Newsom,  Wiley  Bau- 
com,  Sally  Spears,  Mary  Hudson. 

Following  this  they  adpoted  Articles  of  Faith 
not  so  different  from  those  in  use  by  other  Bap- 
tist churches. 

Now,  there  seems  to  be  a  conflict  in  the  dates 
of  the  two  documents  above.  Jerusalem  has  it 
on  record  that  they  organized  themselves  into  a 
church  body  September  1st,  1833.  Rocky  River 
has  it  on  record  that  they  were  still  members 
with  them  and  amendable  to  the  church  up  to 
July  1844,  when  by  an  action  of  the  church  they 
were  excluded  for  non  attendance.  We  can  not 
deny  the  records;  we  must  reconcile  them. 

Both  records  are  true.  The  solution  seems  to 
be  possible  in  this  way:  The  Arm  at  Jerusalem 
took  its  action  on  the  date  stated  but  kept  it 
from  the  Mother  church.  Other  committees  had 
gone  to  them  whom  they  told  they  did  not  con- 
sider themselves  members.  Rocky  River  did  not 
grasp  their  meaning  and  kept  laboring  with  them 
to  preserve  the  union.  The  old  church  took  an 
ordaining  presbytery  to  set  apart  a  young  preach- 
er to  the  ministry  as  late  as  October  13th,  1832. 


The  Arm  at  Bethlehem. 
This  was  located  in  what  is  now  the  village 


River  Baptist  Church  19 


of  Ansonville.  It  was  constituted  into  a  regular 
church  Friday  before  the  2nd  Lord's  Day  in  May, 
1831.  It  had  existed  as  an  arm  for  several  years 
previous  to  this  date.  The  presbytery  constitut- 
ing it  was  composed  of  John  Culpeper,  Sr.,  John 
Culpeper,  Jr.,  Wyatt  Nance,  Thomas  Allen,  and 
Anion  Yarborough.  It  went  anti  and  did  not 
remain  for  very  many  years.  The  site  is  used 
now  as  a  cemetery  for  the  village. 


Arm  at  Kc 

For  some  time  the  members  held  their  names 
at  Rocky  River  while  they  had  services  at  Ken- 
dalls as  often  as  a  preacher  could  be  secured. 
Brother  Job  Calloway  was  enrolled  at  Rocky 
River  but  brought  the  petition  asking  that 
Kendalls  be  constituted  into  a  regular  church. 
The  request  was  granted  on  Saturday  before  the 
fifth  Sunday  in  May,  1830,  Elder  Ralf  Freeman, 
deacons  Thomas  Allen,  Wyatt  Nance  and  Amon 
Yarborough  attended  to  represent  Rocky  River 
in  the  services.  This  church  has  continued  to 
prosper  through  the  years  and  is  now  a  strong 
and  vigorous  body. 


The  Arm  at  Brown  Creek. 
This  arm  was  constituted  two  years  earlier 
than  Kendalls.  Elder  Ralf  Freeman,  Thomas  Al- 
len, and  Amon  Yarborough  formed  Rocky  River's 
delegation  to  this  meeting.  The  date  was  Satur- 
day before  the  fourth  Lord's  Day  in  May,  1828. 
This  church  has  prospered  through  the  years,  and 
though  not  as  strong  as  at  some  periods  of  its 
history,  is  still  a  liberal  church. 


Austin's  Grove. 
This  is  of  doubtful  location.     The  Eldership 


20  History  of  The  Rocky 

of  the  church  was  called  for  to  meet  at  a  sister 
Austin's  of  Stanly  county  to  consider  the  advis- 
ability of  forming-  a  church.  This  was  most 
likely  near  Big  Lick. 


The  following  letter  is  self-explanatory.  It 
shows  the  spirit  of  the  time  of  the  split  in  our 
denomination  over  missions.  Mr.  Williams  had 
his  membership  at  Betheny.  He  moves  nearer 
Rocky  River  and  wishes  his  church  letter.  He 
addresses  his  request  to  Elder  A.  Harris.  He 
knows  there  are  impending  strife  and  divisions. 
He  pleads  for  an  understanding  and  a  continuance 
of  fellowship.  His  letter  was  returned  with  the 
Action  of  Betheny  church  written  on  the  margin. 
Rocky  River  most  certainly  received  him  on 
statement  grounded  on  things  contained  in  the 
letter.  This  was  filed  with  other  papers  in  the 
church  booK.  He  was  soon  elected  clerk  and 
wrote  a  good  hand.  How  long  he  lived  after  this 
to  enjoy  the  fellowship  of  Rocky  River  is  not 
known.  It  is  to  be  regretted  that  so  little  is 
known  of  his  after  life  and  service.  There  are 
some  reasons  to  believe  that  he  was  a  minister  of 
the  Gospel.  This  Betheny  Church  is  located  in 
Anson  County  a  few  miles  below  Wadesboro  and 
is  still  in  existence,  but  now  has  but  very  few 
members. 

"June  the  12th,  1841. 
"State  of  North  Carolina, 
"Anson  County. 
"Respected  Father  In  the  Gospel: 

"I  have  been  of  late  contemplating  on  the 
goodness  of  God  and  His  many  mercies  bestowed 
on  the  innumerable  inhabitants  of  this  Earth. 
And  while  contemplating  my  mind  is  lost  In  won- 
der.    Then  it  is  I  well  might  with  the  Psalmist 


River  Baptist  Church  21 

-say  'What  is  man  that  thou  art  mindful  of  him.' 
I  have  of  late  been  thinking  that  I  would  wish 
to  see  you  and  hold  a  private  conversation  with 
you  and  relate  to  you  the  state  of  my  mind  on 
some  particulars.  But  as  this  is  not  convenient 
at  present  and  as  I  feel  willing'  that  the  whole 
church  at  Betheny  where  my  membership  is  held 
ishould  know  it  as  well  as  you,  and  feeling  some- 
what a  delicacy  in  coming  forward  before  the 
church  to  express  my  ignorance  in  weakness,  I 
have  taken  the  privilege  to  write  to  you  and  I 
wish  you  to  heed  what  follows  with  seriousness 
and  parental  affection  and  bear  with  me  for  I 
respect  you  highly  as  a  minister  of  Christ  and  I 
respect  the  brethren  and  sisters  of  Betheny 
church  as  Christians  and  have  no  reason  to  doubt 
them;  but  I  must  tell  you  that  I  am  not  satis- 
fied to  live  as  I  do,  believing  as  I  believe.  For 
I  profess  to  be  a  Baptist  of  the  Predestinarian 
faith  and  I  believe  it  is  my  duty  to  fellowship 
ail  those  Baptists  who  do  profess  the  same,  and 
not  to  reject  them  on  account  of  their  being  call- 
ed 'Missionaries,'  and  because  they  say  they  are 
in  favor  of  supporting  ministers  to  preach  the 
gospel  to  the  heathens.  For  if  they  think  it  is 
their  duty  to  contribute  to  the  support  of  this  in- 
stitution or  that  institution  their  property  is 
their  own  and  let  them  dispose  of  it  accordingly 
as  they  think  proper  and  we  will  do  the  same. 
I  know  the  time  has  been  when  I  was  as  much 
opposed  to  the  preaching  of  those  who  professed 
to  be  missionaries  as  any  person  could  be. 

"I  did  verily  believe  it  was  a  speculating 
scheme  conducted  and  carried  on  by  a  few  in- 
dividuals in  order  to  make  them  wealthy,  as  you 
have  heard  me  often  relate.  Though  I  am  of 
contrary  opinion  at  this  time.    I  have  of  late  per- 


22  History  of  The  Rocky 

used  the  Memoir  of  Mrs.  Judson  and  there  find 
that  there  have  been  Missionaries  ever  .since  1813, 
which  was  before  I  was  born.  And  if  it  was  not 
that  I  know  you  do  not  devote  much  of  your 
time  in  reading  modern  history,  I  would  recom- 
mend the  perusal  of  Judson's  Letters.  I  have 
read  them  and  feel  bound  to  give  them  credit. 

"And  now,  Father  Harris,  what  could  have 
been  the  cause  of  Adoniram  Judson  and  Ann  H. 
Judson  leaving  of  the  United  States  and  all  their 
friends  and  relatives  and  their  comfortable  dwel- 
ling where  they  were  blest  with  a  plenty  of  this 
world's  substance,  such  a  plenty  as  to  keep  them 
from  want  by  using  industry,  and  exposing  them- 
selves to  the  boisterous  waves  of  the  sea  and 
going  to  India,  where  they  no  doubt  expect  to 
meet  with  a  savage  and  barbarious  nation  of 
people.  Was  it  not  to  preach  the  gospel  of 
Christ  to  a  heathen  people  ?  I  think  myself  that 
it  was.  And  inasmuch  as  that  was  their  errand, 
I  think  the  Omnipotent  Creator  had  a  hand  in 
sending  them.  I  therefore,  wish  this  letter  to 
be  read  to  the  church  at  Betheny,  and,  let  them 
know  my  mind  concerning  fellowship  towards  the 
Missionary  Baptist  brethren.  I  wish  us  all  to 
unite  again  and  become  in  full  fellowship,  both 
anti-Missionary  and  Missionary,  and  not  be  iSO 
cold  toward  each  other  as  we  have  of  late. 

"Brethren  and  sisters,  I  have  not  been  among 
you  for  some  time  and  the  reason  is  that  my 
mind  has  not  been  fully  satisfied  concerning  the 
division  among  the  Baptists.  And,  I  thought  it 
would  wear  away  and  then  I  would  come  to  see 
you.  But  the  more  I  reflect  on  the  goodness  of 
God  the  more  I  am  constrained  to  believe  that  it 
is  our  duty  to  fellowship  with  our  Missionary 
brethren.     For  they  say  they  can  fellowship  us. 


River  Baptist  Church  23 


Then,  let  us  unite  with  them  and  toe  no  longer 
at  variance,  one  with  another.  For  my  part, 
brethren,  I  feel  willing  to  fellowship  all  of  the 
Baptists,  tooth  Missionary  and  anti-Missionary, 
that  is,  if  they  are  in  full  fellowship  in  their  own 
churches.  And  I  hope  you  will  join  in  the  same. 
I  have  some  idea  of  joining  the  church  near  me 
and  did  not  feel  at  liberty  to  so  do  until  I  inform- 
ed you  of  it.  I  wish  you  to  write  me  word  on  the 
reception  of  this  letter  whether  or  not  you  can 
join  me  in  my  sentiments  or  not, 

"I  wish  you  to  take  no  offense  at  my  letter, 
but  read  it  with  serious  attention  and  write  to 
me  your  sentiments  as  you  all  think  most  proper. 
I  would  like  to  receive  a  letter  in  answer  to  this 
as  soon  as  convenient. 

"So  nothing  more  at  present,  but  still  remain. 

"Your  affectunate  friend  and  brother,  even 
until  death. 

"W.  J.  WILLIAMS." 
"To  Elder  A.  Harris  and  the  Members  of 
Betheny  Church. 

"July  the  17th,  1841. 
"Dear  Sir: 

"We  received  your  letter  dated  the  12th  of 
June,  that  you  could  fellowship  Missionaries  and 
anti-Missionaries.  Elder  Harris  said  that  he  had 
Mrs.  Ann  Judson's  book  in  his  house.  He  thinks 
no  more  of  it  than  trash.  So  we  can  say,  fare- 
well for  a  season.  We  excommunicate  you.  May 
the  God  of  Heaven  direct  you  in  wisdom's  ways. 
"ELDER  A.  HARRIS,  JESSE  GARMON 
and  THE  CHURCH." 


24  History  of  The  Rocky 


CHAPTER  V. 


ASSOCIATIONAL  CONNECTIONS. 


Sandy   Creek,   1805-1815— Pee  Dee,   1816-1856- 

Brown  Creek,  1857-1882— Anson,  1883— Pee 
Dee  Again— Anson  2nd  Time  1909 — Present 

—History  of  Pee  Dee  by  John  Culpeper. 


Associations!  Connections. 

The  first  recorded  connection  with  an  associa- 
tion was  with  the  Sandy  Creek  in  1805.  This 
body  met  that  year  with  Chambers  Meeting 
House,  Montgomery  County.  Up  to  that  time  the 
body  seems  never  to  have  had  a  presiding  officer. 
On  motion  of  Elder  John  Culpeper,  seconded  by 
one  'brother,  George  Desmeekes,  James  Bostic  was 
elected  Moderator  and  Bryant  Boroughs,  clerk. 
The  delegates  from  Rocky  River  this  year  were 
Elder  John  Culpeper  and  Armistead  Lilly. 

The  church  kept  this  connection  till  October 
28th,  1815,  when  at  Rock  Springs,  M.  H.,  in 
Chatham  county,  two  miles  from  Pittsborough, 
all  the  churches  South  and  West  of  Deep  River, 
withdrew  and  formed  the  Pee  Dee.  Elder  John 
Culpeper  elected  moderator  of  the  Sandy  Creek 
for  that  session.  This  made  their  parting  gift 
of  honor  to  a  worthy  servant.  Delegates  this 
year  were  John  Culpeper,  William  Crittenden  and 
William  Benton. 

Elder  John  Culpeper  and  Bennett  Solomon  ap- 
pointed messengers  to  the  Baptist  General  Meet- 
ing to  represent  the  new  association. 

The  Pee  Dee  met  in  its  first  session  at  Rich- 


River  Baptist  Church  25 

land  (now  Bethel)   Montgomery  County,  October 
19,  20  and  21,  1816. 

The  Second  Session  was  held  with  the  Cedar 
Creek  (now  Lilesville)  Church,  Anson  County, 
October  18,  19  and  20,  1817.  The  following-  min- 
isterial brethren  being  present,  namely:  Daniel 
Gold,  John  Culpepper,  Armistead  Lilly,  Archibald 
Harris,  Ralf  Freeman  and  Daniel  White. 

The  Brown  Creek  had  been  formed  in  1855, 
and  at  its  third  meeting  at  Mt.  Olive  Church,  ir 
Anson  County,  the  Rocky  River  delegates  found 
enrolled  as  follows:  Elder  S.  P.  Morton,  H.  M. 
Broadaway  and  J.  J.  Broadaway.  The  church 
drops  from  the  list  of  delegates  in  1883. 

The  Anson  was  formed  about  this  time,  and, 
it  is  almost  certain  that  Rocky  River  went  into 
the  new  body.  This  association  remained  as 
County  association  for  some  years  and  was  an 
influential  body. 

The  Old  Pee  Dee  finally  comes  back  with  .\i 
appeal  to  the  Anson  to  reunite  with  them  as  they 
had  only  six  churches  and  needed  more  strength. 
All  these  six  scattering  churches  went  east  of 
the  Pee  Dee  River.  The  Pee  Dee  offered  to 
alternate  in  appointing  places  of  meeting  so  that 
every  other  year  the  sessions  would  come  west 
of  the  river.  But  after  awhile  the  brethren  on 
the  Anson  side  complained  of  having  to  go  so 
far  to  attend  sessions  on  the  Richmond  County 
side  that  the  Anson  was  reorganized  with  most 
of  the  churches  co-operating.  But  as  all  did  not, 
some  of  the  stronger  churches  returned  to  the 
Pee  Dee,  which  leaves  Anson  a  weak  body  com- 
posed now  of  only  ten  or  twelve  churches.  There 
is  a  sentiment  among  still  others  to  return  to  the 
larger  body.     This  may  or    may    not    be    done. 


History  of  The  Rocky 


Rocky  River  is  still  in  the  Anson  in  the  year 
1927. 

In  this  connection  it  may  be  appropriate  to 
insert  a  history  of  the  Pee  Dee  Association,  writ- 
ten 'by  Elder  John  Culpeper,  1835,  and  preserved 
for  us  by  The  Triennial  Baptist  Register  No.  2, 
Baptist  Tract  Society,  Philadelphia,  1835.  The 
following  was  read  at  the  1834  session  of  the 
Pee  Dee  Association.  Place  of  meeting  not 
given. 


History  of  The  Pee  Dee  Association. 


(A  Circular  Letter  by  Elder  John  Culpeper  Read 
Before  The  Pee  Dee  Association,  Session  of 
1834.) 


"The  Ministers  and  Messengers  composing  the 
Pee  Dee  Baptist  Association,  to  the  Churches  they 
represent  send  Christian  love: 
"Dear  Brethren: 

"Being  once  more  permitted  to  meet  together 
in  an  associated  capacity,  we  address  you  in  a 
Circular,  and  present  you  with  the  history  of  our 
Association.  /  In  giving  you  a  history  of  (our 
body  it  is  necessary  to  have  recourse  to  the  his- 
tory of  the  Sandy  Creek  Association  of  which  we 
were  formerly  a  component  part. 

"The  Sandy  Creek  Church,  the  oldest  in  our 
body,  originated  in  the  following  manner:  soon 
after  the  reformation  by  George  Whitfield  and 
others,  Who  began  their  extraordinary  career 
about  the  year  1740,  Shubal  Stearns,  a  native  of 
Boston,  being  a  preacher,  labored  among  them 
till  1751,  when  he  embraced  the  sentiments  of 
Baptists,  as  many  others  of  the  pedo-baptist  sep- 
arates did  about  this  time,  and  soon  after  was 


Hiver  Baptist  Church  27 

"baptized  by  Wait  Palmer,  and  was  ordained  the 
same  year. 

Mr.  Stearns  and  most  of  the  separates  had 
strong  faith  in  the  immediate  teachings  of  the 
Spirit.  They  believed  that  to  those  who  sought 
him  earnestly,  God  often  gave  evident  tokens  of 
his  will.  Stearns,  listening  to  some  of  these  in- 
structions of  the  Spirit,  as  he  conceived  them,  be- 
lieved himself  called  upon  by  the  Almighty  to 
move  far  to  the  west/ward,  to  execute  a  great  and 
extensive  work.  Incited  toy  these  impressions, 
in  the  year  1754,  he  and  a  few  of  his  members 
took  their  leave  of  New  England.  They  halted  in 
Berkley  county  in  Virginia.  Stearns  not  meet- 
ing with  his  expected  success  here  felt  restless. 
Some  of  nis  neighbors  had  removed  to  North 
Carolina;  he  received  letters  from  them,  inform- 
ing him  that  preaching  was  greatly  desired  toy 
the  people  of  that  country.  He  and  his  party  once 
more  got  under  way,  and  traveling  about  200 
miles  came  to  Sandy  Creek,  in  Guilford  County, 
North  Carolina,  where  he  took  up  his  permanent 
residence. 

As  isoon  as  they  arrived  they  built  them  a 
little  meeting  house,  and  16  persons  formed  them- 
selves into  a  church,  and  chose  Shubal  Stearns 
for  their  pastor.  Benedict  vol.  2,  page  38.  He 
had  Daniel  Marshall  and  Joseph  Brede  for  his  as- 
sistants, neither  of  whom  were  ordained.  Of 
Shubal  Stearns,  Benedict  says,  page  367:  "His 
character  was  indisputably  good,  both  as  a  man, 
-a  Christian,  and  a  preacher.'  Of  Daniel  Marshall 
it  is  said,  Benedict,  page  39:  "Though  not  pos- 
sessed of  great  talents,  he  was  indefatigable  in 
his  labors."  He  sallied  out  into  the  adjacent 
neighborhood  s,and  planted  the  Redeemer's  stand- 
ard in  many  of  the  strongholds  of  Satan.    In  pro- 


28  History  of  The  Rocky 

cess  of  time,  some  of  the  inhabitants  became  con- 
verts, and  bowed  obedience  to  the  Redeemer's 
sceptre. 

These  uniting  their  labors  with  the  others, 
a  powerful  and  extensive  revival  commenced,  and 
Sandy  Creek  soon  swelled  from  16  to  606  mem- 
bers. In  the  year  1758,  a  few  churches  having 
been  constituted,  and  these  having  a  number  of 
branches  fast  maturing  for  churches,  Stearns 
conceived  that  an  Association  composed  of  dele- 
gates from  them  all,  would  have  a  tendency  to 
forward  the  great  otojects  of  their  exertions.  For 
this  purpose  he  visited  all  the  churches  and  con- 
gregations, and  explaining  to  them  his  contem- 
plated plan,  induced  them  all  to  send  delegates 
to  his  meeting  house,  in  1758,  when  an  Association 
was  formed  which  was  called  "Sandy  Creek." 
This  Association  experienced  great  changes;  her 
limits  extended  into  different  sections  of  the 
country.  The  Missionary  spirit  or  strong  con- 
fidence in  God  which  actuated  Stearns  and  Mar- 
shall, and  their  associates,  and  induced  them  to 
travel  into  destitute  regions,  diffused  itself  into 
their  successors  in  the  ministry.  This  Associa- 
tion and  some  of  its  spiritual  daughters,  have 
nourished  that  practice  in  every  age. 

Soon  after  the  period  when  Judson  and  others 
visited  the  shores  of  Hindoston  and  Burmah,  and 
on  account  of  their  labors  and  success  resulted 
in  the  formation  of  the  Baptist  Board  of  Foreign 
and  Domestic  Missions,  The  Sandy  Creek  Associa- 
tion at  their  session  held  at  Rock  Spring,  in 
Chatham  County,  in  October,  took  up  the  subject 
and  appointed  R.  T.  Daniel  Corresponding  Secre- 
tary to  isaid  board,  and  appointed  R.  T.  Daniel 
and  Robert  Ward  messengers  to  the  general 
meeting  of  the  Baptists  of  North  Carolina. 


River  Baptist  Church  29 

At  that  session  the  Association  was  divided 
by  mutual  consent,  and  the  churches  South  and 
West  of  Deep  River  formed  a  new  Association 
called  the  Pee  Dee,  and  John  Culpepper  and  Ben- 
nett Solomon  were  appointed  messengers  to  rep- 
resent the  newly  formed  Pee  Dee  Association  in 
the  Baptist  general  meeting.  This  general  meet- 
ing occupied  nearly  the  same  place  among  the 
Baptists  of  North  Carolina  that  the  Baptist  State 
Convention  now  does. 

The  Pee  Dee  Association  held  its  first  session 
at  Richland  in  Montgomery  county,  on  the  19th, 
20th,  and  21st  of  October,  1816,  and  adopted  the 
course;  allowed  J.  Culpeper  six  dollars  for  attend- 
ing the  general  meeting,  and  appointed  J.  Cul- 
peper Corresponding  Secretary  to  the  Baptist 
Board  of  foreign  and  domestic  missions,  and  cor- 
responding messenger  to  the  general  meeting,  and 
i  Bennett  Solomon  his  alternate.  This  Associa- 
tion held  its  session  at  Cedar  Creek  on  the  18th, 
19th,  and  20th  of  October,  1817. 

Elders  Daniel  Gold,  J.  Culpeper,  Armistead 
Lilly,  Arch'd  Harris,  Ralf  Freeman,  Nathan  Riley, 
Daniel  White,  and  others  attended.  They  then 
and  there  resolved  that  the  Association  recom- 
mend to  the  churches  which  compose  the  same, 
to  take  into  consideration  the  importance  of  the 
missionary  business,  and  that  they  contribute  to 
the  support  thereof  what  they  can  reasonably 
spare. 

The  minutes  for  1818  not  found.  The  ses- 
sion for  1819  was  held  at  Bethlehem  meeting 
house  in  Richmond  county,  the  16th,  17th,  and 
18th  days  in  October;  there  the  churches  were 
very  fully  represented  and  took  under  considera- 
tion the  missionary  business,  and  resolved  that 
they  approve  the  proceedings  of  the  Board  of 


30  History  of  The  Rocky 

Foreign  Missions,  and  recommend  to  the  churches 
to  continue  to  support  the  missionary  cause.  The 
session  for  1820  was  held  at  the  Jersey  Settle- 
ment, in  Rowan  county.  The  rain  prevented  the 
Association  from  accomplishing-  much  business, 
but  much  peace  and  harmony  prevailed. 

The  session  for  1821  was  held  at  Carlege's 
Creek,  Richmond;  The  Association  desired  the 
ministerial  brethren  to  visit  the  vacant  churches. 

The  session  for  1822  was  held  at  Rocky  River, 
when  it  was  recommended  to  the  churches  to  set 
apart  a  day  of  fasting  and  praying  to  God,  to 
spread  His  Gospel  from  pole  to  pole. 

The  session  for  1823  was  held  at  Bethlehem 
meeting  house,  in  Montgomery  county.  A  query 
was  introduced  in  these  words:  "Is  the  mission 
a  cause  of  God?"  Answer:  "We  believe  it  is  the 
cause  of  God." 

The  session  for  1824  was  held  at  Pine  Woods 
meeting  house,  Rowan  county.  In  the  circular 
for  that  year  are  published  the  following  words: 
"Many  of  the  churches  are  forming  auxiliary  so- 
cieties for  the  purpose  of  sending  the  Gospel  to 
every  neighborhood  in  our  State  and  the  Lord  is 
abundantly  blessing  their  labors  of  love.  Dear 
brethren,  let  us  go  and  do  likewise." 

The  session  for  1825  was  held  at  Bear  Creek; 
no  minutes  to  be  procured.  This  year  the  Abott's 
Creek  Association  was  formed;  the  dismission  of 
some  of  our  churches,  reduced  our  body  to  nine 
churches  and  four  hundred  and  seventy-nine 
members.  In  1827,  we  were  reduced  to  462  mem- 
bers. In  1828  no  minutes  were  found.  In  1829 
our  increase  was  small,  our  number  465.  In  1830, 
our  number  increased  to  12  churches  and  487 
members.  In  1831,  the  great  and  extensive  re- 
vival commenced  and  we  were  the  happy  sharers 


River  Baptist  Church  31 

of  it.  In  that  year  199  were  baptized,  increasing 
our  number  to  686.  In  1833,  240  were  baptized, 
our  present  number  increased  to  1080.  In  1831 
and  1832,  three  of  our  churches  forsook  us  and 
came  out  in  opposition  to  all  the  benevolent  insti- 
tutions of  the  day.  With  the  churches  which 
withdrew  from  us  in  opposition  to  the  benevolent 
institutions,  four  of  our  ministering  brethren, 
being  one-half  of  our  number  forsook  us,  but  we 
hope  our  God  has  not  forsaken  us;  we  have  sup- 
plied our  churches  with  preaching,  we  have  in- 
creased in  numbers,  and  we  hope  are  growing 
in  grace  and  in  the  knowledge  of  our  Lord  and 
Savior  Jesus  Christ.  And  the  Lord  has  raised 
up  and  we  hope  is  still  raising  up  our  young 
preachers  to  supply  the  place  of  such  as  have 
left  us,  and  have  died,  and  others  of  us  who  are 
wearing  out. 

As  to  the  other  branch  of  the  subject  on 
which,  by  a  resolution  of  the  last  session  we  were 
to  address  you,  that  is,  the  constitution  of  our 
churches ;  we  have  no  certain  account  of  the  date 
of  the  constitution  of  some  of  them.  It  appears 
from  Benedict,  vol.  2,  page  42,  that  the  Sandy 
Creek  Church,  the  oldest  in  our  Association  was 
constituted  in  1756,  and  the  church  at  Little 
River,  in  1760:  this  is  the  church  known  in  our 
minutes  as  the  Church  at  the  Forks  of  Little 
River,  as  there  are  several  churches  on  that  river. 
The  church  at  Rocky  River  was  constituted  in 
1776.  The  Pee  Dee  church  was  constituted  in 
1785.  The  church  formerly  called  Richland,  now7 
Bethel,  in  Montgomery,  was  constituted  before 
the  division  of  the  Sandy  Creek  Association, 
which  occurred  in  1815.  The  church  at  Bethlehem 
was  represented  in  the  first  Session  of  the  Pee 
Dee  Association  in  1816.     But  the  date    of   the 


32  History  of  The  Rocky 

constitution  is  not  known.  The  church  at  Cart- 
lege's  Creek,  was  constituted  in  1823,  of  persons 
who  were  members  of  Pee  Dee  church.  The 
Spring-  Hill  church  was  raised  up  toy  Brother 
Daniel  White  and  others  of  his  country-men 
from  Scotland,  and  was  constituted  about  the 
year  1818. 

The  church  at  Saron,  was  constituted  in  1826, 
of  members  from  the  Bethlehem  church.  Brown 
Creek  church  was  represented  in  the  Association 
in  1829,  and  it  is  presumed  was  constituted  in 
1828,  but  as  the  Minutes  of  the  Association  for 
that  year  are  not  on  file,  it  is  not  certain.  The 
church  at  Kendall's  and  the  Bethlehem  church  in 
Anson,  were  both  constituted  in  1831,  of  mem- 
bers formerly  belonging  to  the  Rocky  River 
Church.  The  church  at  New  Union,  was  consti- 
tuted in  1832,  of  members  from  the  church  at 
the  Forks  of  Little  River,  and  the  Bethel  church 
in  Montgomery.  The  Lawyer  Spring  church, 
formerly  belonged  to  the  Moriah  Association  and 
was  dismissed  from  that  body  and  joined  us  in 
1833.  The  church  at  Dover  was  constituted  in 
1833,  and  was  formerly  a  component  part  of  the 
church  at  the  forks  of  Little  River. 

We  have  here  given  you  as  correct  a  history 
of  the  origin,  rise,  and  progress  of  our  Associa- 
tion, and  of  the  constitution  of  the  churches,  as 
our  limited  information,  and  the  time  we  could 
devote  to  the  subject,  would  enable  us. 

We  perceive  the  first  churches  were  raised 
up  and  the  Association  formed  and  built  up  by 
men  who  had  strong  faith  in  the  immediate 
teaching  of  the  spirit  of  God;  who  believed  that 
to  those  who  sought  him  earnestly,  God  often 
gave  tokens  of  his  wrill;  that  such  indications  of 
the  Divine  pleasure  were  above,  though  not  con- 


Deacon  Robert  N.  Allen 


' 


River  Baptist  Church  33 

trary  to  reason;  and  following  these  indications, 
still  leaning  in  every  step  upon  the  same  Wisdom 
and  Power  by  which  they  were  at  first  actuated, 
they  would  inevitably  be  led  to  the  accomplish- 
ment of  the  two  great  objects  of  a  Christian's 
life,  the  Glory  of  God,  and  the  salvation  of  men. 
Listening  to  these  instructions  of  Heaven,  as  they 
then  esteemed  them,  and  called  upon  by  the  Al- 
mighty as  they  believed,  they  left  their  friends, 
and  traveled  as  faithful  missionaries,  or  heralds 
of  the  Gospel,  and  although  they  met  with  op- 
position, and  had  to  encounter  difficulties  in  priva- 
tions, their  success  was  measured  not  by  their 
abilities,  but  by  the  power  of  God.  The  same  mis- 
sionary spirit  of  zeal,  called  by  some  a  spirit  of 
enthusiasm,  has  from  that  day  to  this  run  through 
their  successors  and  diffused  itself,  not  only  in 
the  parent  or  Sandy  Creek  Association,  but 
through  the  Pee  Dee,  and  other  younger  branches 
of  the  parent  stock. 

The  Liberty  Association  lately  formed  of  part 
of  the  Abotts  Creek  Association  in  consequence 
of  the  determination  of  a  majority  of  that  body, 
not  to  hold  fellowship  or  sit  with  any  persons 
who  held  with  the  Bible  Society,  Missionary  So- 
ciety, or  any  benevolent  institution  of  the  day, 
received  by  baptism  307  persons  during  the  last 
Associational  year,  and  have  now  569  members, 
being  185  more  than  the  whole  number  of  their 
opposing  brethren  who  disowned  them.  They, 
like  our  association,  have  but  few  ministers,  but 
the  Missionary  spirit  has  prompted  them  to  spread 
the  glad  tidings  of  life  and  salvation  in  the  ad- 
joining neighborhoods,  and  God  has  crowned  their 
labors  with  abundant  success.  God  has,  and  ever 
will  bless  such  as  obey  his  commands,  and  confide 
in  his  word. 


History  of  The  Rocky 


The  Churches  in  the  Associations  of  our  State 
including  two  where  the  churches  are  some  in  this 
State  and  some  in  South  Carolina,  who  patronized 
the  benevolent  institutions  of  the  day,  have  bap- 
tized 4751  persons.  From  the  unassociated 
churches  we  have  not  obtained  sufficient  informa- 
tion to  write  anything  certain  as  to  their  increase, 
progress,  or  number,  but  we  know  the  increase 
in  some  of  them  has  been  considerable.  Our  anti- 
missionary  brethren,  who  are  opposed  (and  we 
hope  honestly),  to  these  institutions  have  eight 
Associations,  in  six  of  these  where  they  print 
and  publish  the  numbers  baptized,  they  have  bap- 
tized 180  persons;  and  by  a  comparison  of  their 
numbers  excluded  and  died,  with  the  number  bap- 
tized they  have  experienced  a  small  diminution. 
The  above  results  are  apparent  from  the  Minutes 
of  the  several  Associations  for  1833.  The  Minutes 
for  1834,  as  far  as  they  have  reached  us,  or  been 
heard  from  give  the  same  information.  The 
churches  in  the  different  Associations  who  patron- 
ize these  institutions,  and  strive  to  spread  the 
light  of  the  Gospel  at  home  and  abroad,  are  in- 
creasing in  numbers,  and  we  hope  are  growing  in 
grace  and  in  the  knowledge  of  the  Lord  and 
Savior  Jesus  Christ,  and  their  success  as  usual 
proportioned  to  their  zeal  and  humility. 

And  those  who  oppose  these  things,  and  use 
little  or  no  exertions  to  spread  the  light  of  the 
Gospel,  however  sincere  in  their  opposition,  many 
of  them  are  stationary,  and  others  diminishing. 

JOHN  CULPEPER,  Sen.,  Moderator. 
Pleasant  M.  Powell,  Clerk. 


Following  the  Circular  Letter  by  Mr.  Culpeper 
is  a  sort  of  Digest  of  the  condition  of  the  churches 
composing  the  Pee  Dee  at  that  time  as  follows : 


River  Baptist  Cnurch  35 

The  Pee  Dee  Association. 

The  churches  composing'  this  body  have  sev- 
eral flourishing  Sunday  Schools  and  Temperance 
Societies  in  operation  among  them.  The  follow- 
ing notices  of  some  of  them  are  taken  from  the 
minutes  for  the  two  past  years. 

Cartledge's  Creek — This  church  is  in  a  very 
flourishing  condition.  Nearly  70  persons  were 
received  and  baptized  on  a  profession  of  their 
faith  in  Christ  during  the  first  six  months  of 
1834.  The  church  is  supplied  by  Patrick  W. 
Dowd,  whose  labors  appear  to  have  been  wonder- 
fully blessed  since  he  commenced  preaching  at 
that  place.  There  is  a  Temperance  society,  Tract 
society  and  a  Sunday  school  attached  to  this 
school.  It  is  said  that  they  contribute  nearly  as 
much  to  the  preaching  of  the  Gospel,  and  to  the 
benevolent  institutions  of  the  day,  as  half  the 
Pee  Dee  Association  besides. 

Cedar  Creek. — This  church  has  experienced 
a  "time  of  refreshing  from  the  presence  of  the 
Lord,"  since  the  session  of  the  Association  in 
1834.  At  a  protracted  meeting  in  July,  1835,  of 
thirteen  days  continuance,  the  Lord  was  pleased 
to  pour  out  his  spirit  in  a  most  powerful  man- 
ner; not  only  to  the  awakening  and  converting 
of  sinners,  (but  also  to  the  restoration  of  numbers 
whose  love  had  grown  cold.  They  are  now  in 
peace  and  harmony,  actively  engaged  in  promot- 
ing the  glory  of  God,  and  the  good  of  souls.  They 
are  in  favor  of  the  •benevoLent  institutions,  which 
so  highly  distinguish  the  present  age.  J.  Cul- 
peper,  Jr.,  is  still  their  pastor. 

Rocky  River. — A  pleasing  change  has  been 
wrought  at  that  place,  in  the  sentiments  and  feel- 
ing of  the  people,  through  the  instrumentality 
which  God  was  pleased  to  make  use  of,  at  a  pro- 


36  History  of  The  Rocky 

tracted  meeting  last  summer.  Bread  has  been 
cast  upon  the  waters,  which  it  is  hoped,  will  soon 
be  gathered  up,  to  the  honor  and  glory  of  God. 
J.  Culpeper,  Sen.,  is  their  regular  pastor. 


River  Baptist  Church  37 


CHAPTER  VI. 


THE  CHURCH'S  PASTORS— OTHER 
OFFICERS. 


A  Worthy  Line — Sound  In  Doctrine — Poorly 
Paid  But  Faithful. 


Some  Faithful  Officers  Of  The  Church  and  their 
Families. 


Just  who  were  the  Original  Settlers  around 
Rocy  River  Church  is  not  certainly  known.  The 
names  on  the  oldest  church  Roll  should  give  a 
clue.  The  first  names  found  are  Culpepers,  Aliens, 
Nances,  Bentons,  Pistols,  Turners,  Statons, 
Smiths,  Broadways  and  Yarboroughs,  Lillys  and 
Dargans.  A  few  lines  in  regard  to  these  should 
not  be  out  of  place. 

The  Darling  Allen  family  was  one  of  the  first 
and  oldest.  He  was  a  native  of  Mecklenburg 
County,  Va.  Before  moving  to  North  Carolina 
he  married  Judith  Nance,  daughter  of  Robert 
Nance,  who  remained  in  Granville  County,  North 
Carolina.  The  birth  dates  of  his  children  give 
us  some  further  reason  to  believe  he  was  an  early 
settler.  This  is  on  the  family  records  now  in 
hand  and  well  preserved.  Nancy,  born  April  16th, 
1784;  Betsy,  July  5th,  1787;  Polly,  July  17th, 
1789 ;  Robert,  June  19th,  1792. 

He  was  a  soldier  of  the  Revolutionary  War. 
Whether  he  enlisted  from  Virginia  or  North 
Carolina  is  uncertain.  County  Surveyor,  D.  H. 
Braswell,   of  Anson,  remembers   well   the   little 


History  of  The  Rocky 


wooden  keg  he  used  as  a  canteen  in  the  War. 
This  in  some  way  has  .been  misplaced  or  destroy- 
ed. 

Wyatt  Nance,  son  of  Robert  Nance,  and  uncle 
of  Robert  Allen,  lived  one  quarter  mile  North  of 
the  church  and  most  likely  deeded  the  lot  for  the 
church's  third  site.  He  was  for  many  years  Clerk 
of  the  church.  He  later  moved  on  Richardson's 
Creek,  near  the  Union  County  line,  and  went  into 
the  formation  of  Jerusalem  Anti-Mission  church 
and  became  its  first  Clerk.  It  is  reasonable  to 
suspect  he  died  in  possession  of  Rocky  River's 
oldest  church  record. 

Am  on  Yarborough. — He  is  named  as  head  of 
this  family  name  though  he  had  brothers  and 
children  of  the  same  family  name.  He  followed 
Wyatt  Nance  as  clerk  of  the  Church.  He  and 
family  all  belonged  to  the  church  and  were  among 
its  most  active  members.  He  resigned  in  1832 
as  clerk  and  he  and  every  member  of  the  family 
took  letters  and  moved  to  Alabama.  None  of 
them  ever  returned. 


Other  Allen  Families. 

There  were  :several  distinct  families  of  this 
name  though  each  related  to  the  other.  This 
relationship  was  both  by  blood  and  marriage. 
They  were  given  to  intermarriage. 

Robert  Nance  Allen  was  a  son  of  Darling  Al- 
len, mentioned  first  in  this  series  of  Family 
Sketches.  He  was  also  a  grandson  of  Robert 
Nance  the  original  of  his  name  in  this  part  of 
the  State.  Robert  was  born  June  9th,  1792,  one- 
half  mile  East  of  the  church  on  Lane's  Creek  on 
the  place  now  owned  (by  Henry  Baker.  Here  his 
father,  Darling  Allen,  was  killed  by  Mose  Allen, 
one  of  his  slaves  in  1803,  when  Robert  was  eleven 


River  Baptist  Church  39 

years  of  age.  It  is  said  that  this  negro  was  the 
first  man  to  be  executed  by  hanging  in  Anson 
County.  Robert  was  a  Deacon  of  the  church  and 
was  noted  for  his  hospitality.  His  dwelling  was 
at  that  time  the  best  in  the  community,  being  a 
two-story  eight  room  house.  "He  was  careful 
to  entertain  strangers,  given  to  hospitality."  This 
family  at  an  association  entertained  forty-five 
delegates  and  friends  at  one  time.  Mother  re- 
members this  well  and  has  often  spoken  of  it  to 
the  writer.  This  home  was  remarkable  for  the 
striking  beauty  of  its  chimneys,  built  of  brick 
from  a  kiln  on  the  farm.  Those  on  the  inside 
of  the  kiln  were  burnt  to  a  glossy  black.  The 
masons  so  placed  these  as  to  form  diamonds  from 
bottom  to  top.  This  old  dwelling  was  destroyed 
by  fire  a  few  years  ago.  This  family  observed 
to  the  letter  the  Biblical  injunction,  "Contend 
for  the  faith  once  delivered  to  the  Saints."  Not 
one  of  them  have  ever  been  anything  but  Mis- 
sionary Baptists.    They  are  "Landmarkers." 

Thomas  Allen  joined  the  church  earlier  than 
Robert.  No  better  member  than  he  appears  on 
the  church  roll.  He  was  never  in  trouble  of  his 
own  and  was  ever  bringing  Heavenly  beatitudes 
upon  himself  as  a  "peacemaker."  He  was  used  in 
more  church  councils  at  home  and  abroad,  on 
more  constituting  and  ordaining  Presbyterys  and 
more  often  appointed  a  delegate  to  associations 
than  any  member  of  his  day  or  since.  His  branch 
of  the  family  has  passed  off  the  Earth  to  their 
reward. 

Johnny  Allen. — He  was  a  first  cousin  of  Rob- 
ert Allen  and  married  his  sister,  Polly  Allen.  He 
was  a  good  man  and  true  but  would  sometimes 
speak  his  mind  a  little  too  freely  and  have  to 
apologize  for  it.    Yet,  he  was  a  good  member  and 


40  History  of  The  Rocky 

well  thought  of  by  his  brethren. 

Quite  a  number  of  his  great-grand-children  are 
living,  among  them  Clyde  Allen,  of  Norwood; 
Robert,  of  Ansonville;  and  Mrs.  Addie  Lee  and 
Mrs.  Minnie  Gaddy,  of  the  old  home  section. 

The  David  Allen  family  have  in  recent  years 
not  lived  close  to  the  church  and  most  of  them 
now  belong  to  Rocky  Mount  six  miles  above  here. 

The  son,  Clement,  left  three  sons,  John,  Cal- 
vin and  Devotion.  The  last  named  left  no  heirs. 
Calvin  left  a  son  and  daughter,  now  living  at 
Olive  Branch.  John  raised  a  large  family,  some 
of  whom  are  living  at  the  old  home,  one  at  Oak- 
boro  and  two  daughters,  Mrs.  Thompson  of  Nor- 
wood, and  Mrs.  Lilly  Efird,  of  Cottonville. 


The  Laniers. 

This  family  moved  here  from  Virginia  with 
the  Nances  and  Aliens  and  were  connected  by 
marriage.  Benjamin,  the  original  head,  married 
Dolly  Nance,  daughter  of  Robert  Nance,  a  sister 
to  Wyatt  Nance  and  the  wife  of  Darling  Allen. 
This  Benjamin  Lanier  was  the  father  of  Robert 
Lanier,  late,  of  Norwood,  and  Mrs.  Robert  Allen 
and  also  of  Mary  Lanier,  who  married  Robert  M. 
Wall,  of  Norwood.  Mrs.  Eugenia  Dunlap,  of  An- 
sonville, is  the  daughter  and  only  child  of  this 
marriage.  Robert  and  Edmond  Lanier,  of  Nor- 
wood, are  grandsons  of  this  Benjamin  Lanier. 
Uncle  "Benny"  lived  but  little  around  Rocky 
River  Church.  He  spent  most  of  his  days  in 
South  Carolina  "overseeing"  large  plantations  for 
William  PeGee  and  others.  But  his  wife  and 
daughters  did  live  at  least  at  two  places  in  the 
community.  First  on  Little  Creek,  half  way  be- 
tween the  Church  and  the  village  of  Cedar  Hill. 
Then  after  Uncle  Benny's  death  they  lived  close 


Deacon  Uriah   Scaton 


River  Baptist  Church  41 

by  the  home  of  Robert  N.  Allen.  After  the  mar- 
riage of  her  youngest  daughter  Grandma  "Dolly" 
moved  into  the  home  of  her  son-in-law,  Robert 
N.  Allen,  where  she  spent  her  few  remaining  days. 
None  of  the  male  members  of  this  family  appear 
on  the  church  rolls.  Some  of  the  daughters  with 
some  slaves  of  the  name  belonged.  John,  one  of 
the  sons,  moved  to  Alabama,  and  his  family  is  lost 
to  us. 

The  families  so  far  mentioned  were  all  from 
Mecklenburg  County,  Virginia,  with  a  short  stop 
jn  Granville  County,  North  Carolina.  Now  other 
old  families  will  be  considered : 


The  Turners. 

A  family  "tree"  shows  Jasper  Turner  the  for- 
bear of  them  all.  The  male  members  of  this 
family  were  not  church  members  then  or  after. 
The  women  were  members  and  faithful  attend- 
ants. George  was  the  only  son  to  raise  a  family, 
lie  lived  to  be  exceedingly  old  and  was  buried  in 
sight  of  his  old  home.  Wilson,  son  of  George, 
raised  a  large  family,  some  of  whom  are  living, 
namely:  Sam  Turner,  of  the  old  home,  and  Mrs. 
Fred  Lee,  of  Ansonville,  and  Mrs.  Cornelia  Good- 
man, of  Polkton. 

Aunt  Polly  and  Dilly,  two  old  maiden  sisters, 
daughters  of  Jasper  Turner,  never  married  and 
willed  their  farm  and  other  property  to  a  colored 
slave  who  never  left  them  during  their  natural 
life.  He  was  a  good  negro  and  perhaps  deserved 
the  reward  for  his  long  stay  with  and  kind  atten- 
tion to  these  good  old  ladies.  They  were  both 
members  of  the  church  and  faithful. 


The  Broadaways. 

The  Broadaways  were  church  folks  and  lived 


42  History  of  The  Rocky 


several  miles  West  of  the  church.  But  distance 
did  not  keep  them  from  attending  church  regular- 
ly. They  were  and  are  now  Baptists  to  a  man. 
The  family  is  too  large  to  trace  its  branches. 

James  Broadaway.  Each  branch  of  the  family 
is  worthy  of  notice  but  the  writer  has  time  and 
space  only  to  mention  the  one  at  the  head  of  this 
paragraph.  James  Broadaway  and  wife,  Aunt 
Patsy,  left  no  children.  They  were  good,  happy 
old  folks,  ibeloved  by  all.  He  was  Rocky  River's 
most  faithful  church  clerk.  He  served  continu- 
ously for  thirty-one  years.  They  always  had 
something  to  give  children  who  visited  them.  In 
her  last  days,  Aunt  Patsy  was  paralyzed  and 
could  not  speak,  but  would  motion  for  something 
to  be  given  children  that  went  to  see  her.  They 
lived  two  miles  West  of  the  church,  near  the  new 
Burnsville  High  School  Building.  Sacred  is  the 
memory  of  them. 


Pistole. 

Robert  Pistole  and  Elizabeth  Pistole,  his  wife, 
are  found  enrolled  on  the  oldest  church  book  to 
be  found.  They  are  members  with  the  Culpepers, 
Ralf  Freeman,  the  Baucoms,  Newsoms,  Aliens, 
Yarboroughs  and  other  families  of  the  earliest 
mention.  It  seemed  at  first  that  all  trace  of  them 
was  lost  and  the  family  name  extinct.  But  finally 
a  great-grand-daughter,  Mrs.  S.  B.  Bundy,  of 
Monroe,  was  discovered,  who  has  given  a  full  rec- 
ord of  the  family  and  is  to  be  inserted  in  this 
book.  This  information  came  at  a  late  hour  and 
the  copy  had  to  be  secured  from  the  printers  in 
order  to  make  this  amendment  to  the  original 
copy.  Mrs.  Bundy  is  a  lady  of  rare  intelligence 
and  has  been  my  only  dependence  in  getting  hold 
of  the  facts  wanted. 


Hiver  Baptist  Church  43 

Brother  and  Sister  Pistole  were  faithful  mem- 
bers for  many  years;  regular  in  their  attendance 
and  highly  respected  as  neighbors.  But  when  the 
"split"  over  Missions  came  they  sided  with  the 
opposition  and  left  us  to  form  Jerusalem  church, 
■six  miles  away.  It  should  be  said  that  the  family 
record  to  be  presented  here  was  copied  from  the 
old  family  Bible,  now  in  -possession  of  Mrs.  Ada 
Tucker,  of  Anson  County,  who  is  supposed  to  be 
another  great-grand-daughter  as  one  of  the 
daughters,  Lucy  Pistole,  married  Goerge  Tucker, 
&s  will  be  seen  from  the  record. 

Charles,  the  only  son  to  marry  and  leave 
children,  also  left  but  one  son,  James  M.  Pistole, 
who  married  Alice  Osborne,  who  have  one  son 
and  two  daughters  now  living  in  Monroe,  Number 
206  Crowell  Street.  John  E.  Pistole  lives  with 
and  cares  for  his  two  unmarried  sisters,  Mittie 
and  Audrey  Pistole.  He  is  a  sober  and  industrious 
citizen. 

Another  daughter  of  Robert  Pistole,  Kather- 
ine,  married  a  Braswell,  probably  of  Anson,  as 
Sheriff  Braswell,  of  Wadesboro,  is  also  a  great- 
grand-son  of  Robertson  and  Elizabeth  Travis 
Pistole.  These  are  all  the  living  heirs  the  writer 
has  been  able  to  locate.  It  should  have  been 
stated  in  the  beginning  that  in  all  probability 
Robertson  Pistole  was  born  at  Cardiff,  Wales. 
This  is  a  seemingly  well  grounded  family  tradition 
handed  down  from  parent  to  child  and  should  be 
accepted  as  though  it  were  actually  found  on  a 
written  record.  The  entire  record,  as  found  in 
the  old  family  Bible  is  as  follows: 

Robertson  Pistole,  born  June  18,  1773,  at 
Cadiff,  Wales;  died  1852.  Married  Elizabeth 
Travis,  Sept.  8,  1796,  who  was  born  Nov.  18,  1778 ; 
died  in  1841. 


44  History  of  The  Rocky 

Children  of  Robertson  and  Elizabeth  Pistole : 

1.  Polly,  born  October  19,  1797. 

2.  Nancy,  born  June  2,  1799. 

3.  Elizabeth,  born  June  5,  1801. 

4.  Martha,  born  April  13,  1803,  married  Eph- 
riam  Newsom. 

5.  Lucy,  born  May  21,  1805,  married  George 
Tucker  and  was  killed  by  lightning. 

6.  Katherine,  born  April  11,  1807,  married  a 
Braswell,  great-grand-father  of  Sheriff  Braswell, 
of  Anson  County. 

7.  Edward  Travis,  born  June  24,  1809. 

8.  Charles,  born  January  16,  1813,  married 
Magaret  Williams,  born  1815,  died  August  24, 
1884.    Parents  of  Mrs.  Bundy  living  in  Monroe. 

9.  Sally,  born  Jan.  14,  1815. 

10.  Louisa,  born  Apr.  12,  1819. 

11.  William  Robertson,  born   March  27,   1822, 
died  July  27,  1841. 

12.  Anna,  born  Jan.  13,  18 — . 


Staton. 

Deacon  Uriah  Staton.  Another  worthy  man 
comes  into  view.  On  the  death  of  Thomas  Allen 
Brother  Staton  was  elected  to  take  his  place.  He 
was  a  large  land  owner  and  possessed  other  prop- 
erty of  value.  It  was  more  than  four  miles  across 
his  lands  from  east  to  west.  He  conducted  a  grist 
and  saw  mill  on  Lanes  Creek.  He  owned  a  num- 
ber of  slaves,  many  of  them  holding  membership 
with  him  at  Rocky  River.  Mack  Staton,  a  worthy 
slave,  was  given  the  privilege  of  preaching  to  his 
color.  He  lived  and  died  without  a  stain  on  his 
Christian  character.  Every  body  knew  and 
respected  "Uncle"  Mack  Staton.  Brother  Staton 
was  a  kind  man  to  the  poor  and  the  widows  and 
fatherless.     He  was  the  most  liberal  man  of  the 


River  Baptist  Church  45 

church  at  that  time.  He  was  a  man  of  few  words, 
lie  had  the  utmost  confidence  in  his  old  pastor, 
S.  P.  Morton.  But  he  would  sleep  under  his 
preaching.  Being  asked  why  he  always  kept 
awake  when  visiting  precahers  had  appointments 
and  slept  under  Uncle  Sammy's  preaching, 
answered,  "I  know  Uncle  Sammy  will  do  to  trust ; 
the  stranger  I  have  to  watch." 

He  raised  a  large  family  and  still  has  many 
descendants  but  only  one  living  child,  Mrs.  Lilly 
Shankle,  of  Albemarle. 

Shepard  Lee  was  not  a  deacon,  but  was  one 
of  the  very  oldest  families  of  the  neighborhood. 
He  and  family  were  members.  He  was  a  son  of 
"Rocky  River"  Bill  Lee,  so  called  to  distinguish 
him  from  "Truckwheel"  Bill  and  his  own  son  of 
the  same  name.  "Rocky  River"  Bill  and  family 
did  not  belong  to  the  church,  though  friendly  to 
it  as  the  first  two  church  sites  were  probably  sold 
or  donated  by  him. 

Julius  W.  Burns  came  much  later.  He  was  a 
close  relative  of  the  other  Burnes  of  the  County. 
He  was  a  man  of  wealth  and  liberal  and  true  to 
his  church.  He  raised  a  large  family  of  worthy 
sons  and  daughters,  most  of  whom  are  still  living. 
His  companion,  Aunt  Frankie  Burns,  is  istill  with 
us. 

This  ends  the  list  of  deacons  and  other  of- 
ficers of  the  Church  who  have  gone  to  the  Church 
Triumphant.  There  is  one  still  with  us,  but  who 
has  passed  the  most  active  period  of  his  life  might 
be  mentioned  as  we  pass  on  to  other  items  in  the 
Church's  history. 

John  E.  Efird  has  been  a  deacon  for  many 
years  now.  He  is  not  a  native  of  Stanly,  but 
marrying  over  here  he  has  spent  most  of  his  life 
with  us.    He  has  been  a  successful  business  man. 


46  History  of  The  Rocky 

Raised  a  large  family  of  useful  sons  and  worthy 
daughters.  He  is  the  father  of  the  Efird  Broth- 
ers who  own  and  operate  the  Eiird  Chain  of 
Stores.  He  himself  is  Vice-President  and  joint 
owner  with  his  sons.  He  is  a  regular  church  at- 
tendant and  holds  up  well  for  his  age. 


John  Culpeper,  Sr. 

John  Culpeper,  Senior,  son  of  Samson  Culpeper, 
was  born  in  Anson  County,  North  Carolina,  in 
the  year  1764.  The  exact  locality  is  not  known. 
It  is  known,  however,  that  the  Culpepers  lived 
quite  awhile  on  Rocky  River  near  the  first  site  of 
Rocky  River  Church,  on  what  is  now  a  part  of  the 
"Rocky  River  Bill"  Lee  plantation  more  recently 
owned  by  the  late  J.  Frank  Gaddy. 

When  twelve  years  old  his  father,  Samson 
Culpeper,  moved  to  Georgia.  At  the  age  of 
twenty  young  John  was  converted  under  the 
preaching  of  Dr.  Silas  Mercer,  and  himself  entered 
the  ministry  almost  immediately.  He  soon  re- 
turned to  North  Carolina  where  he  spent  all  his 
active  life  serving  the  Baptist  denomination  as 
pastor  of  churches,  moderator  of  associations,  as 
Agent  for  State  Missions  and  so  forth. 

He  enters  public  political  life.  In  1807,  at  the 
urgent  solicitation  of  friends  he  made  the  race 
as  a  candidate  for  the  United  States  Congress  and 
was  elected.  The  following  is  copied  from  Dr. 
George  W.  Purefoy's  History  of  the  Sandy  Creek 
Association  published  in  1857:  "He  preached  in 
the  churches  of  the  Sanely  Creek  Association, 
which  then  reached  to  the  Pee  Dee  River.  Ex- 
tensive revivals  accompanied  his  preaching  wher- 
ever he  went.  He  continued  these  labors  with 
undiminished  zeal  and  effect  for  several  years. 
In  the  meantime,  his  popularity  became  so  great, 


River  Baptist  Church  47 

that  his  misguided  friends  urged  him  to  become 
a  candidate  for  Congress,  as  the  only  means  of 
preventing  the  re-election  of  the  then  encumbent, 
who  was  particularly  distasteful  to  the  voters  in 
that  part  of  the  district.  During  this  time  he 
continued  to  preach  the  true  doctrines  of  the  gos- 
pel, but  it  was  with  greatly  diminished  zeal  and 
■success." 

Writing  Prof.  A.  R.  Newsom,  Secretary  N.  C. 
Historical  Commission,  Raleigh,  the  following 
record  of  his  service  in  Congress  was  secured: 
"I  find  that  John  Culpeper  is  listed  as  being  from 
Montgomery  County.  The  present  Stanly  County 
was  created  from  Montgomery  in  1841.  Mont- 
gomery had  been  cut  off  from  Anson  in  1778.  I 
find  that  Culpeper  was  a  Federalist  representative 
from  North  Carolina  in  the  United  States  Con- 
gress of  1807-09;  1813-15;  1815-17;  1819-21; 
1823-25;  1827-29.  I  also  find  him  listed  as  one  of 
the  representatives  from  Montgomery  County  in 
the  General  Assembly  of  the  State  in  1824." 

It  would  seem  from  what  Dr.  Purefoy  says 
above  that  it  was  not  the  intention  of  either  Mr. 
Culpeper  or  his  friends  to  remain  in  politics  long- 
er than  to  accomplish  the  defeat  of  their  so  called 
undesirable  incumbent.  He  made  the  race,  de- 
feated his  opponent,  served  one  term  and  retired, 
as  there  is  a  gap  in  his  service  from  1810  to  1812. 
But  of  his  own  choice  or  by  the  urging  of  friends 
he  again  enters  in  1813  to  remain  till  1829.  The 
term  in  the  N.  C.  General  Assembly  of  1824  men- 
tioned by  Prof.  Newsom  could  have  reference  to 
John  Culpeper,  Jr.,  as  he  was  then  a  young  law- 
yer and  was  about  this  time  a  member  of  the 
legislature.  It  is  rather  strange,  and,  apparently 
unfair,  that  a  man  so  popular  and  so  much  used 
by  such  a  strong  constituency,  should  have  such 


48  History  of  Tlie  Rocky 

scant  mention  in  the  histories  of  North  Carolina. 
That  he  was  popular  there  can  be  no  question. 
From  Bro.  Purefoy's  History,  page  327,  as  above, 
he  says,  "In  Congress  he  obtained  a  distinguished 
reputation  for  consistency,  firmness  and  disinter- 
ested devotion  to  the  interests  of  his  country. 
It  is  quite  true  he  never  ceased  to  preach  and 
serve  churches  during  his  public  life  as  a  States- 
man. All  the  while  he  was  pastor  of  Rocky  River 
church  with  Eider  Ralf  Freeman  supplying  while 
Congress  was  in  'session. 

Dr.  Purefoy  wrote  with  first-hand  knowledge 
as  his  History  was  written  only  seventeen  years 
after  the  death  of  Mr.  Culpeper.  There  is  every 
reason  to  believe  they  knew  each  other  personally 
as  Mr.  Culpeper  attended  the  Sandy  Creek  as 
messenger  from  the  Pee  Dee  a  short  while  be- 
fore his  death  and  while  Mr.  Purefoy  was  a 
regular  attendant  if  not  a  member  of  that  Body. 
There  have  only  recently  passed  away  several  old 
people  from  Rocky  River  church  community  who 
distinctly  remembered  Ralf  Freeman  being  Mr. 
Cuipeper's  supply.  No  picture  of  him  is  known 
to  exist.  But  old  people  remembered  him  as  being 
broad  shouldered,  portly  but  not  fat.  Uncle  Ben 
Davis,  an  old  worthy  colored  man  and  long  time 
member  of  Rocky  River,  was  interviewed  a  lew 
years  before  his  death  as  to  the  personal  appear- 
ance of  Mr.  Culpeper.  He  said,  "He  was  large 
but  not  fat,  high,  broad  forehead,  broad  shoulders, 
and  a  fine  looking  man  I  tell  you."  This  old  slave 
remembered  Mr.  Culpeper  vividly  and  kept  his 
membership  in  the  church  long  after  the  War. 

It  was  a  common  saying  among  the  old  people 
that  Mr.  Culpeper  was  pastor  for  fifty  years. 
This  is  very  probable.  The  oldest  records  in  hand 
starts  with  April  the  5th,  1828.     At  this  confer- 


Samuel  P.  Morton 


River  Baptist  Church  49 

enee  Wyatt  Nance  resigned  as  Clerk  and  Anion 
Yarborough  elected  in  his  place.  Bro.  Nance  evi- 
dently kept  the  old  book  and  never  turned  it  over 
to  the  new  clerk.  The  handwriting  of  Bro.  Nance 
nowhere  appears  on  the  book  we  have  in  hand. 
As  he  went  off  with  the  anti-mission  faction  he 
failed  to  return  the  book  and  the  richest  of  our 
church  history  now  seems  forever  lost  to  us.  But 
with  the  oldest  book  we  have  Mr.  Culpeper  is  pas- 
tor and  no  mention  is  anywhere  made  of  a  pre- 
decessor. From  other  sources  it  is  known  that 
Elder  Edmond  Lilly  was  pastor  in  1790.  It  is 
likely  Mr.  Culpeper  followed  him  immediately,  and 
if  so,  he  did  by  1840  serve  the  reputed  fifty  years. 
He  was  generally  if  not  universally  beloved  by  the 
people  of  this  section.  They  without  exception 
alluded  to  him  in  a  reverent  and  respectful  man- 
ner. Many  calling  him  affectionately  "Father 
Culpeper."  The  writer's  mother  remembered  him 
well.  She  remembers  a  newspaper  he  brought 
from  Washington  City  and  gave  her,  the  first  she 
had  ever  seen.  She  kept  it  till  it  literally  fell 
to  pieces.  His  name  as  pastor  is  last  found  on 
the  old  church  book  in  the  October  minutes  for 
1840.  His  death  is  mentioned  at  the  January 
meeting  in  1841.  He  held  his  membership  for 
his  name  is  on  every  church  roll  up  to  the  day 
of  his  death.  At  this  October  conference  he  and 
deacon  John  Allen  are  appointed  delegates  to  the 
Pee  Dee  Association. 

The  Clerk  makes  the  following  notation  at 
the  January  1841  conference:  "After  the  death 
of  our  pastor,  John  Culpeper,  Senior,  the  church 
was  some  time  without  a  pastor  in  1841.  1'ne 
church  called  to  the  pastoral  care  of  the  church 
the  Reverend  Samuel  P.  Morton,  who  officiated 
as  pastor  for  one  year.    Thus  ended  the  life  story 


50  History  of  The  Rocky 

of  Elder  John  Culpeper  so  far    as     the    church 
records  go. 

He  moved  to  his  son's  home  at  Society  Hill, 

S.  C,  a  few  weeks  before  he  died  and  was  buried 

in  old  Welch  Neck  Church  Cemetery  in  January, 

1841.    His  last  resting  place  is  a  beauty  spot  in 

this  old  church  burying  ground  where  he  rests 

close  by  many  prominent  and  honored  sons  of  the 

Old  Palmetto  State.     The  writer  made  a  special 

trip  to  Society  Hill  last  August  to  view  his  tomb 

and  copy  the  inscription.    It  follows : 

"In  Memory 

of 

Rev.  John  Culpeper  who  died 

Jan.  1841,  aged  76  years. 

He  was  distinguished  for  Candour,  firmness 

and   Consistency.     He  preached   the  pure 

Gospel  for  54  years  and  died  in  the  triumph 

of  faith." 


The  grave  is  well  cared  for  and  the  inscrip- 
tion as  plain  as  when  done  87  years  ago.  If  we 
analyze  the  statements  made  in  the  inscription 
, above  we  get  some  fine  points  of  his  personal  his- 
tory. First,  if  he  preached  for  54  years  he  began 
in  1786.  Second,  as  he  was  born  in  1764,  he  com- 
menced preaching  at  the  age  of  22.  As  he  enter- 
ed the  ministry  at  22  he  could  easily  have  served 
Rocky  River  the  50  years  as  claimed  by  his 
friends. 

By  his  side  sleep  four  Culpeper  children,  evi- 
dently all  the  children  of  John  Culpeper,  Jr.,  who 
lived  there  at  the  time  of  their  deaths.  The  in- 
scriptions on  their  headstones  are  as  follows:  "In 
Memory  of  Catherine  E.  Culpeper,  a  good  child 
who  died  March,  1845,  aged  9  years."  "In  memory 
of  Thomas  R.  Culpeper    who  died  June  8,  1856, 


River  Baptist  Church  51 

aged  18  years.  He  was  a  most  lovely  youth  whom 
the  Lord  called  home  one  month  after  his  con- 
version." Then  two  infants,  "S.  P.  C."  and  "B. 
F.  C."  No  dates  given.  John  Jr.  soon  moved  to 
or  near  Timmonsville  and  at  a  good  old  age  was 
buried  at  old  Lake  Swamp  church,  three  miles  out 
from  this  town. 

The  spelling  of  the  Culpepper  name  varies. 
The  form  used  by  them  has  been  adopted,  that 
of  using  but  two  p's,  though  the  correct  form 
would  doubtless  be  with  the  three  p's. 


John  Culpeper,  Jr. 

John  Culpeper,  Jr.,  is  a  reputed  son  of  Anson 
County.  From  every  source  this  seems  to  be 
established.  Even  friends  from  South  Carolina 
corroborate  these  statements  to  this  effect.  It 
is  most  likely  he  was  born  at  the  old  Culpeper 
home  on  Rocky  River.  As  to  the  date  of  his  birth 
and  death  the  inscription  on  his  tomb  at  old  Lake 
Swamp  church,  near  Timmonsville,  S.  C,  gives  the 
only  data  available.  From  that  it  is  learned  he 
was  born  in  North  Carolina,  December  9,  1800, 
and  died  March  26,  1873.  This  wras  transcribed 
by  Rev.  Mark  R.  Osbourne,  now  pastor  of  Lake 
Swamp  church,  and  is  as  follows: 

"Rev.  John  Culpepper 
Born  in  N.  C. 
Dec.  9,    1800 
Died  March  26,  1873." 

"In  early  manhood,  a  lawyer,  solicitor  and 
member  of  the  North  Carolina  Legislature,  then 
for  all  the  remainder  of  <his  life  (42  years)  a 
Baptist  minister,  greatly  beloved  by  the  churches 
he  served  as  pastor.  For  many  years  the  efficient 
Moderator  of  the  Welch  Neck  Baptist  Association, 
well  known  through  this  State  as  a  wise  conn- 


52  History  of  The  Rocky 

selor  and  of  highest  Christian  character." 

Now  there  is  one  thing  in  the  inscription  that 
tallies  exactly  with  the  records  of  old  Rocky  River 
church  book.  The  minutes  show  that  he  joined 
by  experience  and  baptism  December  4,  1830; 
was  licensed  to  preach  April  2nd,  1831 ;  ordained 
October  13,  1832.  It  will  be  seen  as  he  was  born 
on  the  even  date  of  1800;  began  preaching  in 
1831;  died  in  1873;  that  we  have  only  to  subtract 
the  31  years  from  the  73  years  of  his  life  to 
get  the  42  active  years  in  the  Gospel  ministry. 

The  minutes  on  the  church  book  for  October, 
1831,  are  written  in  a  hand  nowhere  else  to  be 
f  und.  It  is  one  of  the  most  elegant  to  be  found 
and  it  is  but  natural  to  conclude  that  as  he  had 
just  recently  united  with  the  church  and  being 
of  such  marked  intelligence  some  old  time  clerk 
requisitioned  him  for  this  just  for  once. 

Young  Culpeper  was  never  pastor  of  the 
church.  His  connection  with  it  and  his  promin- 
ence in  this  and  other  associations,  justify  this 
short  biography  of  him.  The  records  show  that 
he  preached  at  both  Jerusalem  and  Bethlehem 
while  they  were  "Arms"  of  Rocky  River.  Both 
these  rejected  missions.  The  latter  disbanded 
many  years  ago  and  is  forgotten;  the  former  is 
still  in  existence  and  is  as  strong  as  any  of  the 
churches  of  that  faith  in  this  section. 

In  1834-35  he  was  pastor  of  Cedar  Creek 
(Lilesville)  Anson  County.  In  1834  the  church 
had  a  great  revival  and  sixty-odd  members  were 
added  to  the  membership.  It  is  thought  while 
here  he  married  a  Miss  Catherine  Pinkney  (or 
maybe  Pinkston)  of  Anson.  Soon  after  this  he 
moved  to  Darlington  District,  S.  C.  He  settled 
in  or  near  Society  Hill. 

A  Mrs.  Carter,  of  Timmonsville,  in  answer  to 


Kiver  Baptist  Church  53 

an  inquiry  writes  as  follows: 

"Rev.  John  Culpeper,  Jr.,  married  Catherine 
Pinkney  while  living  in  Anson.  His  oldest  son, 
Dr.  James  Turner  Culpeper,  was  born  there  in 
1834.  They  had  fifteen  children,  most  of  them 
died  in  infancy.  Only  three  ever  married.  Dr. 
Culpeper  died  ten  years  ago,  aged  83.  Rev.  John 
Culpeper  has  one  living  grand-daughter,  Mrs.  Eva 
Quarterman,  Miami,  Fla." 

The  writer  not  having  the  correct  street  ad- 
dress, failed  to  get  in  correspondence  with  her 
to  get  further  facts. 

This  history  has  been  delayed  because  of  an 
extended  effort  to  get  more  data  in  regard  to 
Mr.  Culpeper.  The  start  was  made  almost  without 
anything  at  all.  There  are  evidently  some  docu- 
mentary facts  in  the  records  of  the  Baptist 
Denomination  of  South  Carolina,  but  every  ef- 
fort to  secure  them  has  failed.  Any  man  trying 
to  write  things  historical  about  Baptists  will  dis- 
cover the  need  of  fuller  records  and  more  pains- 
taking Church  and  Associational  Clerks. 

This  father  and  son  were  too  prominent  and 
worthy  to  so  nearly  pass  out  of  denominational 
records.  This  writer  has  done  his  'best  to  save 
their  names  from  discard. 

Since  writing  the  above  a  lady  from  Society 
Hill  writes  as  follows  concerning  the  personal 
appearance  of  Mr.  Culpeper: 

"I  think  of  him  as  a  tall,  thin  man  with  iron 
gray  'hair,  brushed  straight  back  from  his  fore- 
head. He  was  said  to  look  very  much  like  John 
C.  Calhoun.  My  impression  is  that  Mr.  Culpeper 
wore  a  short  iron  gray  beard  under  his  chin." 

To  the  uninterested  these  minor  details  may 
seem  silly,  but  to  the  writer  they  are  peculiarly 
interesting. 


54  History  of  The  Rocky 

Since  writing  the  above  the  following  informa- 
tion has  been  secured  from  Elder  Henry  Sheets' 
History  of  the  Liberty  Association: 

"There  is  little  recorded  of  Drury  Sims.  The 
first  account  we  have  of  him  is  given  by  Morgan 
Edwards  in  1772-73,  who  traveled  through  North 
Carolina  during  the  years  mentioned.  He  tells  us 
that  Elder  Elnathan  Davis  had  charge  of  six 
churches  in  the  State  and  had  three  assistants. 
One  of  these  was  Drury  Sims,  who  as  sub-pastor 
was  serving  Rocky  River  Church,  in  Anson  coun- 
ty. The  next  we  hear  of  him  was  at  Jersey  Set- 
tlement, October  16,  1784,  when  he  and  Elder 
William  Hill  served  as  presbytery  in  the  consti- 
tution of  the  church  (Jersey)  the  second  time. 
He  was  one  of  the  constituent  members.  He  was 
then  called  to  the  pastoral  care  of  the  church  and 
held  that  position  about  five  years.  He  and  his 
wife  were  dismissed  by  letter  September  8,  1789 ; 
but  no  intimation  is  given  as  to  where  he  went." 

So  we  may  safely  infer  that  both  Drury  Sims 
and  Elnathan  Davis  were  joint  pastors  in  the 
earliest  days  of  Rocky  River  Church.  You  may 
notice  that  Rocky  River  is  spoken  of  in  1772-1773, 
which  is  earlier  than  any  other  known  records 
have  ever  given  any  mention.  This  is  not  so 
strange  since  a  number  of  churches  of  that  period 
existed  as  "Arms"  for  years  before  they  were 
orderly  constituted  by  a  presbytery.  And,  as 
Elder  Sims  remained  in  reach  of  Rocky  River 
till  1789  he  could  have  remained  pastor  till  Elder 
Edmond  Lilly  took  charge  in  1790.  Then  Elder 
John  Culpeper,  Sr.,  probably  took  charge  and 
served  till  the  end  of  1840,  as  the  records  show. 


Samuel  P.  Morton. 

Samuel  P.  Morton  was  born  November  23rd, 


River  Baptist  Church  55 

1805.  He  was  most  likely  born  in  Stanly  County, 
but  this  is  not  positively  known.  He  lived  near 
the  present  town  of  Badin,  where  a  part  of  the 
chimney  at  the  west  end  of  the  house  still  re- 
mains. 

From  here  he  moved  to  Anson,  but  this  alone 
does  not  establish  the  place  of  his  birth.  He  took 
his  letter  from  Ebenezer  near  by  on  December 
23rd,  1848.  The  letter  was  signed  without  a 
moderator,  but  with: 

"Daniel  McLester,  Clk. 
by  William  Solomon,  Clk.  protem." 

Elder  Morton  had  very  likely  already  moved 
to  Anson  as  he  had  been  pastor  continuously  for 
several  years.  His  first  marriage  was  to  Miss 
Vashti  Calloway,  daughter  of  Isaac  Calloway, 
probably  of  Montgomery  County,  as  'he  belonged 
to  the  church  at  the  mouth  of  Uwharrie  and  was 
a  delegate  to  the  Sandy  Creek  in  1805  and  again 
in  1811.  His  wife  was  a  sister  to  Job  Calloway, 
who  for  years  held  his  membership  at  Rocky 
River.  This  Job  Calloway  lived  at  what  is  now 
the  Davidson  Talbert  place,  three  miles  north 
east  of  Albemarle.  This  put  him  just  twenty 
miles  from  the  church.  But  he  attended  and 
kept  in  good  standing.  He  it  was,  who  rode  these 
twenty  miles  in  1830  to  ask  the  mother  church 
to  send  a  presbytery  to  constitute  Kendalls  into  a 
regular  church.  The  presbytery  consisting  of 
"Elder  Ralf  Freeman,  Thomas  Allen,  Amon  Yar- 
borough  and  Wyatt  Nance."  This  was  Saturday 
before  the  fifth  Lord's  Day  in  May,  1830. 

From  this  first  marriage  of  Bro.  Morton,  there 
were  several  daughters  and  one  son.  One  of  the 
daughters  married  G.  W.  Turner  of  Anson,  who 
raised  a  large  and  creditable  family  of  sons  and 
daughters.     With   this   daughter     Bro.     Morton 


56  History  of  The  Rocky 

spent  his  last  days.  Another  daughter  married 
brother  Thomas  Hall,  of  Stanly,  who  also  raised 
a  large  family.  The  one  son,  George  Morton, 
having  lost  his  own  mother,  tired  of  home,  went 
to  Texas  and  never  returned.  Uncle  Sammie  was 
often  called  the  "Crying  Preacher."  He  was  un- 
usually tender  hearted  and  seldom  ever  preached 
without  shedding  tears.  It  is  thought  he  had  the 
best  education  of  any  pastor  up  to  this  time.  He 
first  planned  to  study  and  practice  medicine  but 
abandoned  this  for  the  ministry.  He  was  the 
first  preacher  remembered  by  the  writer  of  this 
little  history.  From  now  on  most  that  is  writ- 
ten will  be  from  personal  knowledge. 

Uncle  Sammie,  while  not  specially  gifted  as 
a  revivalist,  had  the  pleasure  of  baptizing  hund- 
reds, both  white  and  slaves.  He  was  also  popular 
as  a  marrying  parson.  He  would  often  after  sup- 
per play  a  few  innocent  games  with  the  young 
people  and  then  slip  off  to  bed  early.  He  knew 
the  young  people  wanted  a  Scotch-Ramble  Cotil- 
lion or  at  least  a  "Steal-Partner."  He  usually  fell 
asleep  at  once  and  never  knew  anything  more  that 
night,  so  the  young  people  thought.  A  better 
man  then  or  now  would  be  hard  to  find. 

Once  in  his  latter  days  he  was  spending  a  cold 
Saturday  night  with  a  family  near  Norwood.  To 
protect  his  head  from  the  cold  he  had  kept  on 
his  hat  till  they  went  to  prayer.  In  kneeling  he 
placed  his  hat  too  near  the  fire,  on  arising  he  and 
his  friends  discovered  that  his  hat  had  burned 
to  ashes.  Pie  said,  "What  shall  I  do,  I  have  an 
appointment  for  tomorrow?" 

The  hoys  said,  "Never  mind,  Uncle  Sammie, 
the  Lord  will  provide."  Early  next  morning  with- 
out his  knowledge  they  rode  out  to  Norwood  and 
a  kind  merchant  walked  down  to  his  store  and 


Elder  E.  L.  Davis 


River  Baptist  Church  57 

selected  a  nice  hat  for  him.  But  for  his  teach- 
ing a  few  months  each  year  he  never  could  have 
lived  wihile  serving  the  churches.  When  his  age 
prevented  his  teaching  anymore,  some  of  (his 
churches  never  paid  more  than  fifteen  dollars  a 
year  and  didn't  pay  a  cent  of  that  till  the  last 
meeting  before  the  association.  This  is  neither 
hearsay  nor  guess  work,  there  were  no  poundings 
in  those  days  either.  He  was  largely  to  blame  for 
this  as  he  was  too  humble  and  tender  hearted  to 
tell  his  people  their  duty.  There  are  two  ex- 
tremes. He  was  at  one  end;  some  of  us  today  are 
at  the  other.  Where  is  the  "happy  mean?" 
Uncle  Sammie  used  chaste  and  correct  English. 
He  was  logical  in  the  arrangement  of  his  sermons. 
He  was  neither  a  fluent  speaker  nor  an  orator. 

His  first  year  at  Rocky  River  was  in  1841. 
Elder  Culpeper  had  served  through  1840.  Owing 
to  the  river  being  in  the  way  Uncle  Sammie  was 
unable  to  meet  several  of  his  appointments  that 
year,  for  this  probably  he  dropped  out  and  was 
followed  by  Elder  William  A.  Morris,  who  lived 
only  six  miles  away  on  the  Anson  side  and  had 
no  streams  to  hinder  him.  He  served  three  years 
and  was  followed  by  Elder  Dwight  Hayes  for 
1845. 

Then  Uncle  Sammie  takes  charge  again 
through  1846-1875,  twenty-nine  years  in  all.  His 
second  wife  preceded  him  to  the  grave  by  five 
years.  As  said  before,  he  spent  his  last  days 
with  his  daughter  or  near  her,  apart  of  the  time 
possibly  in  his  little  humble  home  almost  in  sight. 
He  died  very  poor  in  this  world's  goods,  but  rich 
in  grace.  He  had  requested  that  this  line  be 
engraved  on  his  headstone:  "S.  P.  Morton,  a  sin- 
ner saved  by  grace." 

After  some  years  the  Anson  Association  placed 


58  History  of  The  Rocky 

a  monument  to  his  grave  and  put  the  words  he 
requested  on  as  a  part  of  the  inscription. 

He  was  buried  at  Red  Hill  Church,  which  was 
near  his  ihome,  two  or  three  miles  West  of  Anson- 
ville. 


Elder  Ralf  Freeman. 

Writing  the  biography  of  a  colored  preacher 
may  be  considered  a  unique  and  unusual  task.  So 
it  is,  though  in  this  case  it  is  done  with  great 
pleasure  and  satisfaction.  Elder  Geo.  W.  Purefoy, 
who  was  a  contemporary  of  both  the  Culpepers 
and  Ralf,  has  this  to  say  in  his  history  of  the 
Sandy  Creek  Association: 

"Elder  Ralf  was  a  colored  man  and  at  first 
a  slave,  belonging  to  a  man  in  Anson  County, 
North  Carolina.  Soon  after  making  a  profession 
of  religion  and  being  baptized,  it  was  discovered 
that  he  had  impressions  to  preach ;  he  was  licens- 
ed by  the  church  of  which  he  was  a  member.  His 
owner  proposed  to  sell  him,  and  the  brethren 
bought  and  gave  him  his  freedom.  Soon  after 
this,  he  was  ordanied  to  the  work  of  the  ministry. 
He  traveled  and  preached  a  great  deal  in  the 
counties  of  Anson,  Montgomery,  Moore,  Randolph, 
and  Davidson.  He  became  a  good  reader  and  was 
well  read  in  the  Scriptures.  He  was  considered 
an  able  preacher;  was  frequently  called  upon  to 
preach  on  funeral  occasions;  was  appointed  on 
Sabbath  at  Associations,  and  frequently  admin- 
istered the  ordinance  of  baptism  and  the  Lord's 
Supper. 

He  was  of  common  size;  was  perfectly  black, 
with  a  smiling  countenance,  especially  in  the 
pulpit  while  speaking.  He  was  very  humble  in 
his  appearance  at  all  times,  and  especially  when 
conducting  religious  services. 


Kiver  Baptist  Church  59 

Great  personal  respect  was  always  shown  him 
"by  the  brethren  whom  he  visited  in  his  preaching 
excursions. 

Elder  Joseph  Magee,  a  Baptist  Minister,  be- 
came his  warm  friend,  and  traveled  and  preached 
with  him.  Such  was  their  attachment  for  each 
other,  that  they  agreed  that  the  surviving  one 
should  preach  the  funeral  of  the  one  that  died 
first.  Elder  Magee  moved  to  the  west  and  died 
first.  Upon  his  death  bed  he  bequeathed  to  Ralf 
his  riding  horse,  overcoat,  Bible,  and  fifty  dollars 
in  cash,  and  requested  his  family  to  send  for  Ralf 
to  come  and  preach  at  his  funeral.  In  company 
with  a  white  brother,  Ralf  went  to  the  West  and 
preached  the  funeral  sermon  from  a  text  the  de- 
ceased had  selected.  The  brother  that  went  with 
Ralf  stated  to  Elder  N.  Richardson  that  he  never 
before  saw  so  large  a  congregation.  At  the  con- 
clusion of  the  sermon,  Elder  Magee's  brother 
stated  to  the  congregation  what  provision  his  de- 
ceased brother  had  made  for  Ralf,  and  added,  if 
any  of  you  would  like  to  give  him  any  amount, 
it  would  be  thankfully  received ;  the  congregation 
soon  made  up  fifty  dollars,  which  was  given  to 
him.  While  this  contribution  was  being  made,  a 
Methodist  came  up  and  handed  Ralf  one  dollar. 
A  Presbyterian  who  observed  it,  said  to  him, 
"You  ought  not  to  give  Ralf  anything."  "Why 
not?"  said  the  Methodist.  "Because,"  said  the 
Presbyterian,  "he  has  torn  your  system  all  to 
pieces."  The  Methodist  replied,  "I  believe  he  has 
preached  tne  truth,  and  I  will  give  him  the  dollar." 
Ralf  was  able  in  illustrating  and  unfolding  the 
doctrines  of  grace. 

When  the  Anti-Mission  party  was  formed,  we 
have  been  told  that  he  became  Anti-Missionary. 
When  the  Legislature  passed  a  law  prohibiting 


60  History  of  The  Rocky 

colored  men  from  holding  pulblic  services,  Ralf 
was  greatly  mortified,  and  had  the  sympathy  of 
many  brethren.  Ralf  was,  no  doubt,  a  truly  pious 
and  humble  Christian;  he  had  the  confidence  and 
esteem  of  thousands,  and  died  in  the  full  assur- 
ance of  a  blessed  immortality." 

With  the  relating  of  some  things  learned 
locally  of  this  worthy  colored  minister,  this  sketch 
will  have  to  close.  The  mother  of  the  writer  and 
many  others  among  old  neighbors  remembered 
Ralf  distinctly.  He  supplied  for  Elder  Culpeper 
all  the  years  while  he  was  in  Congress.  Not  only 
this,  but  he  was  a  member  of  most  of  the  ordain- 
ing and  constituting  Presbyteries  of  that  day. 
He  had  a  great  many  white  converts  under  his 
preaching  and  when  circumstances  required,  he 
sometimes  administered  baptism  to  white  candi- 
dates. Mother  always  spoke  of  him  as  a  good 
Christian  and  an  able  preacher.  Being  asked  if 
white  people  entertained  him,  and  if  so,  how,  she 
replied:  "Well,  he  sat  with  the  white  folks  till 
bed  time;  had  Bible  reading  and  prayer;  then 
went  to  the  negro  quarters  and  slept  on  a  bed 
specially  prepared."  Then  about  the  eating;  "Did 
he  eat  in  the  main  kitchen?"  "Yes."  "At  the 
same  time  the  whites  did?"  "Yes."  "At  the 
same  table?"  "No,  on  a  side  table."  Well,  a  boy's 
curiosity  was  thus  pretty  well  satisfied.  They 
treated  him  right  and  in  the  right  way.  Rjalf 
was  often  put  up  to  preach  on  Sunday  at  Associa- 
tions. While  a  member  of  the  Sandy  Creek,  he 
was  known  to  occupy  the  pulpit  with  many  prom- 
inent and  even  learned  men,  such  as  Rev.  Luther 
Rice,  and  others. 

It  is  likely ^true,  as  Elder  Purefoy  says  in  his 
History,  that  he  died  in  the  fellowship  of  an  Anti- 
Mission  church.     This  was  more    a    matter    of 


River  Baptist  Church  61 

accident  than  of  choice.  When  the  "Arm"  at 
Bethlehem  (now  Ansonville)  was  constituted  a 
regular  church,  still  missionary,  Ralf  moved  his 
membership  there.  It  is  almost  certain  that  his 
residence  was  there  also.  When  the  division 
came  over  missions,  this  church  went  solidly  over 
with  the  antis.  This  was  his  environment  in  his 
old  age  and  last  days.  Being  already  silenced  by 
a  Legislative  enactment  and  not  mingling  any- 
more with  his  former  ministerial  brethren,  he  ac- 
cepted his  lot  and  died  with  his  name  on  Bethle- 
hem's church  book  and  was  buried  in  the  church 
grove.  Only  last  summer  the  writer  with  a  party 
of  friends  visited  his  grave,  and  with  bared  head, 
paraphrased  the  words  of  Gen.  Pershing  at  Lafay- 
ette's grave,  said,  "Ralf,  we  are  here."  For  many 
years  'his  grave  had  nothing  more  than  a  plain 
quarried  stone  marking  his  resting  place.  In  1907, 
Hon.  Eugene  Little,  of  Wadesboro,  at  his  own  good 
will  had  erected  a  creditable  granite  headstone 
with  this  inscription: 

"Ralf" 
He  was  a  Primitive  Baptist  Preacher  of 
much  force  and  usefulness.     His  freedom 
was  purchased  by  the  Bear  Creek  Associa- 
tion.    Erected  1907. 

The  wording  of  the  inscription  was  wholly 
impartial  so  far  as  Mr.  Little  was  concerned,  but 
there  is  most  certainly  an  error  as  regards  Ralf 's 
freedom.  Bear  Creek  was  not  organized  till  1833 
and  Ralf's  freedom  would  have  come  too  late  to 
have  been  any  benefit  to  him  in  his  public  min- 
istry. Bethlehem  was  not  constituted  a  church 
till  July,  1831.  Ralf  was  still  a  member  of  Rocky 
River  for  the  year  before  he  was  twice  put  on 
Presbyteries  to  aid  in  constituting  churches,  Ken- 
dall's in  Stanly,  being  one  of  them.    He  seems  to 


,62  History  of  The  Rocky 

drop  out  of  sight  in  1831.  It  is  thought  that  about 
this  time  the  Legislature  passed  the  law  concern- 
ing men  of  color  preaching.  Tradition  has  it 
that  he  lived  but  a  short  while  after  this.  If 
so,  his  freedom  came  too  late.  The  evident  fact 
is  that  (his  freedom  was  purchased  near  the  begin- 
ning of  his  active  ministry  and  not  at  the  latter 
end  of  it.  No  mention  is  made  of  him  anywhere 
after  1831.  Anyway,  "Peace  to  his  sleeping 
dust." 


Edmond  Lilly  Davis. 

This  great  pioneer  preacher  was  born  in 
Anson  County  in  1813.  Died  at  Olive  Branch  in 
Union  County,  1896,  aged  83  years.  He  was 
several  times  married.  His  second  wife  was  a 
sister  of  Judge  R.  T.  Bennett,  of  Wadesboro,  who 
was  the  mother  of  Rev.  Culpeper  Davis,  whose 
sketch  will  immediately  follow  this  of  his  father. 

Elder  Edmond  L.  Davis  was  ordained  to  the 
ministry  in  1832,  at  the  age  of  19,  just  at  the 
time  of  the  division  over  missions  in  this  part 
of  the  State.  He  sided  with  the  Antis  and  preaoh- 
ed  for  them  12  years.  Finally  he  decided  he  was 
preaching  a  gospel  too  narrow  for  the  needs  of 
the  world,  and  fully  and  heartily  accepted  the 
faith  of  the  Missionaries,  and  labored  with  them 
to  the  end  of  his  life,  preaching  against  missions 
and  all  benevolences  for  12  years,  and  then  preach- 
ing for  these  for  51  years,  he  seemed  to  come  as 
near  having  a  chance  to  make  amends  for  his 
mistake  as  a  man  never  has.  Altogether,  his  was 
a  ministry  of  63  years. 

Uncle  Edmond  was  in  a  class  all  to  himself. 
He  copied  from  no  man  and  none  succeeded  in 
imitating  him.  He  cleared  his  own  field  and 
cultivated  it.    He  was  endowed  with  a  lot  of  com- 


River  Baptist  Church  63 

mon  sense  and  originality.  He  took  orders  from 
none. 

He  was  truly  a  "Son  of  Thunder."  He  had  a 
striking  personality;  rigid  but  rather  handsome; 
dark  hair,  rosy  cheeks,  piercing  eyes,  and  a  body 
neither  too  large  nor  too  small;  a  voice  unsur- 
passed.   He  was  an  Orator. 

When  stirred  by  some  great  theme,  or,  moved 
to  action  by  some  opposing  forces,  he  could  look 
as  mad  and  sour  as  any  man  you  ever  saw.  At 
such  times  he  would  often  pause  and  say,  "I  am 
not  mad  every  time  I  look  ugly."  This  explana- 
tion was  timely  for  those  not  well  acquainted  with 
him. 

His  education  was  limited.  His  textbook  was 
the  Bible;  his  schoolgrounds  the  homes  of  the 
people.  From  the  Bible  and  human  life  he  learn- 
ed much. 

Under  the  inspiration  of  a  great  occasion,  he 
would  even  surpass  himself,  and  his  words  would 
become  irresistable.  At  such  times  no  living  man 
of  his  -section  could  equal  him.  While  a  consum- 
ing fire  in  the  pulpit,  he  was  a  very  quiet,  humble 
man  in  private  life. 

As  a  pastor  he  was  but  little  more  aggressive 
than  others  of  his  day.  Preaching,  not  "pastor- 
ating,"  was  the  main  thing  then.  Though  he  was 
pastor  at  Rocky  River  for  three  years,  1867, 
'78-'79,  he  was  not  of  this  community  and  is  sel- 
dom thought  of  as  a  pastor.  His  greatness  was 
discovered  on  special  occasions  over  the  country 
where  multitudes  traveled  miles  to  hear  him. 

He  was  given  to  quaint  sayings.  Among  oth- 
ers, he  would  often  say  when  he  saw  a  dog  in 
church,  "Get  the  dog  out,  I  have  had  to  preach  to 
dogs  for  fifty  years  and  never  knew  one  converted 
yet."    When  the  people  were  thoughtless  about 


64  History  of  The  Rocky 

such  intrusions,  he  has  been  known  to  take  his 
buggy  whip  in  the  pulpit  and  on  occasions  use  it 
with  telling  effect.  About  this  time  ladies  wore 
skirts  as  much  too  long  as  they  are  now  too  short, 
and  he  would  say,  "When  I  was  a  boy  women 
swept  the  yards  with  brooms,  but  now  they  sweep 
them  with  Calico." 

Again  he  would  say,  "If  I  was  a  millionaire 
I  would  use  it  to  hire  every  preacher  I  could  to 
quit.  The  true  ones  would  preach  on;  the  ones  I 
could  hire  ought  to  quit." 

A  splendid  picture  of  him  may  be  seen  in  Bro. 
C.  J.  Black's  History  of  the  Brown  Creek  Associa- 
tion. The  same  may  be  inserted  here  if  the 
cut  can  be  secured. 


Elder  A.  C.  Davis. 

This  brother  is  still  living  at  Olive  Branch,  in 
Union  County,  within  a  mile  of  where  the  was  born 
and  raised.  He  is  a  son  of  Elder  E.  L.  Davis, 
whose  life  story  is  told  just  preceding  this  of  his 
son.  Bro.  A.  Culpeper  Davis  was  named  in  part 
for  Elder  Culpeper,  Sr. 

He  was  born  in  1853;  married  1871  to  Miss 
Sarah  Elizabeth  Hamilton ;  ordained  to  the  Gospel 
ministry  1876,  and  served  churches  regularly  to 
1922  when  loss  of  sight  and  failing  health  compell- 
ed his  retirement.  He  is  now  seriously  afflicted 
and  seldom  leaves  the  house. 

Rocky  River  was  among,  if  not,  the  first  church 
that  called  him  into  pastoral  service  after  his 
ordination.  He  took  charge  in  1876,  the  year  of 
ordination  and  served  two  years,  then  in  1891-92, 
two  years,  then  1922,  his  last  year  in  the  min- 
istry, making  five  years  in  all.  From  1876  to 
1922  makes  a  service  of  46  years,  a  record  of 
which  no  man  should  be  ashamed.     Bro.   "Cul" 


Rev.  G.  O.  Wilhoit 


River  Baptist  Church  65 

was  both  like  and  unlike  his  sainted  father.  In 
his  deep  convictions,  his  uncompromising  loyalty 
to  truth,  his  habit  of  striking  straight  out  from 
the  shoulder  in  language  plain  and  strong;  he  is 
very  much  a  "chip  off  the  old  block." 

He  was  more  of  a  student  and  less  of  an  orator. 
In  figure  he  was  tall  and  spare.  His  voice  was 
keyed  in  a  high  tenor.  His  method  was  either 
textual  or  expository,  his  style  argumentative. 
While  lacking  some  of  his  father's  gifts,  he  had 
some  peculiarly  his  own  that  he  used  to  good 
effect.    His  opponents  dreaded  him  in  debates. 

Several  years  ago,  while  pastor  at  Big  Lick, 
Stanly  County,  he  met  by  previous  arrangement, 
Elder  Singleton  Little,  the  "Wheelhorse"  of  the 
Stanly  Anti-Missionaries.  People  were  there  from 
far  and  near.  The  grove  was  full,  as  well  as  the 
church.  "Uncle  Singleton"  spoke  first  and  Bro. 
"Cul"  followed.  He  was  unusually  calm  and  con- 
siderate on  this  occasion,  but  he  won.  At  the  con- 
clusion of  the  debate,  he  took  a  hat  collection 
for  the  old  brother  which  brought  joy  to  his  heart 
and  tears  to  his  eyes.  Collectors  were  sent  among 
the  people  in  the  grove.  The  offering  was  liberal, 
the  largest  he  ever  received,  no  doubt.  He  sat 
in  the  pulpit  and  tied  up  the  money  in  a  large 
red  bandanna  handkerchief. 

He  was  heard  to  remark  after  the  service 
that,  "Mr.  Davis  is  not  the  harsh  man  he  is  re- 
ported to  be."  This  wound  up  all  doctrinal  debates 
in  Stanly. 

This  will  perhaps  be  the  only  lengthy  write- 
up  of  any  living  pastor,  as  the  others  have  promise 
of  further  service  and  their  book  of  life  is  not 
yet  closed,  it  is  hoped.  But  the  writer  felt  justi- 
fied in  this  under  the  circumstances.  Bro.  Davis 
is  able  neither  to  read    nor    visit    friends,     and 


66  History  of  The  Rocky 

though  tenderly  cared  for  by  a  daughter,  none 
should  marvel  if  a  measure  of  loneliness  should 
enter  into  his  experience. 


Rev.  G.  O.  Wilhoit. 

The  subject  of  this  sketch  was  born  in  Ala- 
mance county  May  19th,  1840.  His  parents 
moved  to  Stanly  December  28th,  1850,  when 
young  G.  0.,  or  "Bud"  as  the  family  and  neigh- 
bors called  him,  was  only  ten  years  old. 

Unaided,  he  attended  such  schools  as  were  in 
reach  of  him  and  made  good  use  of  them.  He 
read  and  studied  at  home  to  supplement  his  limit- 
ed 'school  advantages.  Thus  applying  himself,  he 
secured  a  fair  education  for  that  day.  He  taught 
right  much  in  connection  with  his  pastorates. 

While  in  the  Civil  War  he  was  converted  un- 
der the  preaching  of  Rev.  G.  W.  Camp,  July  28, 
1863,  and  was  immediately  baptized  near  Kin- 
ston,  N.  C.  He  took  a  certificate  of  baptism  upon 
which  he  was  received  by  Silver  Springs  at  the 
close  of  the  war.  He  was  licensed  to  preach,  1866, 
received  full  ordination  in  December  of  the  same 
3^ear.  Elders  A.  F.  Bennett,  C.  C.  Foreman,  and 
S.  P.  Morton  forming  the  Presbytery.  In  1876 
he  moved  from  Stanly  to  Anson  where  he  was 
active  in  pastorates  to  the  end  of  his  life. 

About  the  date  of  his  moving  to  Anson  he  had 
reached  his  highest  attainments  in  an  evangelistic 
sense.  His  new  residence  was  near  Red  Hill. 
For  sometime  a  school  house  was  used  by  the 
church  on  common  occasions,  while  revival  meet- 
ings were  held  under  a  brush  arbor  in  the  grove, 
supplied  with  slabs  for  seats  and  an  old  fashioned 
high  ibox  pulpit  for  the  preacners.  Upon  one 
occasion  during  a  great  revival  at  the  close  of  one 
of  his   most  stirring  sermons,  he  called  on  the 


Biver  Baptist  Church  67 

congregation  to  sing  while  be  met  the  seekers  in 
tne  altar.  They  began  at  once  to  come  by  num- 
bers. It  could  be  seen  that  he  was  overcome 
with  joy,  and  not  taking  time  to  descend  the  side 
steps,  jumped  to  the  center  of  the  altar  space  and 
greeted  penitents  right  and  left. 

Brother  Wilhoit  was  not  only  industrious  in 
the  pulpit,  he  was  equally  so  on  the  farm  or  what- 
ever he  undertook  to  do.  If  he  had  a  weakness 
it  may  (have  been  here.  He  possibly  worked  a 
little  too  hard.  Boys  who  worked  for  him  said 
he  worked  like  "fighting  fire"  from  morning  till 
night.  Be  it  said  to  his  honor,  he  was  the  first 
pastor  at  Rocky  River  to  press  missions  in  any 
systematic  way.  The  church  took  forward 
strides  under  his  ministry.  He  was  pastor  all 
told  thirteen  years.  For  dates  see  Pastoral 
Directory  further  on  in  this  History. 

Under  his  ministry  the  writer  was  converted, 
baptized  and  ordained  to  the  Gospel  ministry. 
Sacred  is  the  memory  of  him. 

He  died  at  Ansonville  in  1919,  and  was  buried 
at  Red  Hill,  a  church  he  loved,  and  under  God, 
had  so  much  to  do  with  building  up. 


William  A.  Morris. 

These  last  sketches  are  not  put  in  the  order  to 
which  they  are  entitled  but  are  placed  last  be- 
cause of  their  brevity. 

Bro.  Morris  served  as  pastor  from  1842-1844, 
the  year  of  his  death.  He  was  spoken  of  in  the 
tenderest  terms  in  a  Memorial  paper  offered  by 
the  church  on  the  occasion  of  his  death. 

He  lived  on  a  farm  midway  between  the  church 
and  the  present  town  of  Polkton.  His  grave  is  in 
sight  of  the  present  Lane's  Creek  bridge  on  the 
(highway  now  in  use.     He  was  a  man  of  fair  in- 


68  History  of  The  Rocky 

telligence  and  held  some  good  pastorates.  His 
family  is  extinct  so  far  as  known.  Though  there 
are  grand-children,  none  bear  the  name  of 
Morris. 


Elder  Dwight  Hayes. 

Served  as  pastor  in  1845,  for  one  year  only. 
What  became  of  him  is  unknown.  It  is  known, 
however,  that  he  served  several  churches  in  Robe- 
son County,  Ashpole,  now  Fairmont,  being  one 
of  them. 


Elder  Crockett. 

Called  to  preach  once  a  month  in  1857.  There 
is  no  record  of  his  ever  preaching.  There  seems 
to  be  an  unbroken  service  by  Elder  S.  P.  Morton. 
It  is  likely  that  this  was  G.  F.  H.  Crockett,  who 
about  that  time  was  traveling  in  this  State  in 
the  interest  of  Indian  missions. 


Elder  C.  C.  Foreman. 

Served  in  1857  for  one  year  only.  For  some 
unknown  cause  he  missed  several  appointments. 
He  was  a  man  of  large  business  affairs.  Most 
of  his  work  was  in  Stanly  where  he  owned  lands, 
mill  property  and  conducted  a  large  store.  This 
is  now  owned  by  the  Titus  Coble  heirs,  grand- 
children of  Brother  Foreman. 


Elder  J.  W.  Phifer. 

Served  in  1880  for  one  year  only.  He  was 
from  Union  County  where  about  al'l  his  ministry 
was  rendered. 


Elder  J.  L.  Bennett. 

Served  the  church  very  acceptably    for    the 
years  1893,  1905.    He  could  have  remained  with 


River  Baptist  Church  69 

the  church  longer  had  he  so  desired.     He    was 
evangelistic  in  his  preaching. 

This  makes  reference  to  all  those  who  have 
passed  on  to.  their  reward.  The  living  pastors 
with  'those  mentioned  there  will  be  listed  in  the 
Directory  in  the  last  pages  of  the  book. 


Elder  John  A.  Summey. 

Brother  Summey  is  a  native  of  Davidson  coun- 
ty. In  the  latter  part  of  his  ministry  he  moved 
to  Anson.  Served  Rocky  River  and  other  churches. 
He  was  a  faithful  expounder  of  the  Word.  He 
served  Rocky  River  two  or  more  years  but  the 
records  were  so  kept  as  to  be  of  but  little  help  in 
getting  anything  concerning  him  or  his  pastorate 
lliere.  He  is  still  living  at  Ansonville,  but  his 
health  has  failed  and  he  has  not  been  active  in 
the  pastorate  for  'several  years.  Brother  Summey 
was  born  June  20,  1854;  married  Miss  Martha 
Jane  Copple,  November  13,  1873;  ordained  to  the 
Gospel  ministry  October  31,  1886;  served  Rocky 
River  Church,  according  to  his  own  record,  the 
years  1912  to  1916 — 4  years;  second  pastorate, 
1918.  1919,  1920—3  years,  making  a  total  of  7 
years. 


70  History  of  The  Rocky 


CHAPTER  VII. 


HOURS  AMONG  THE  "MINUTES. 


Wading  Through  Ancient  Waters — Fishing  For 

Meaty     Game — Stringing     the    "Catch" — 

Salting  Down  For  Future  Use. 


Every  recorded  minute,  every  word  of  every 
minute  and  every  punctuation  mark  has  been 
carefully  scrutinized  and  translated  contained  in 
the  four  available  Church  Books  covering  a  period 
Of  ninety-nine  years.  The  varied  styles  of  hand- 
writing, the  incorrect  spelling  and  the  faded  con- 
dition of  many  of  the  pages,  made  this  no  easy 
task;  yet  it  was  entered  into  and  persued  with 
unabated  interest  and  pleasure. 

The  casual  reader  may  see  no  reason  for  the 
recording  of  many  little  things  that  are  here  to 
be  put  down.  If  so,  he  is  asked  to  remember  that 
this  little  book  is  intended  to  be  more  of  a  Record 
than  a  History.  Then  it  was  from  the  first  plan- 
ned to  save  all  that  was  on  the  Church's  records 
and  more.  In  case  the  old  books  should  ever  be 
destroyed  by  fire  or  otherwise,  the  facts  will  be 
in  the  hands  of  several  hundred  readers  who  may 
possess  this  History,  which  should  make  them  as 
safe  as  any  earthly  thing  can  be  made  so. 

To  start  at  the  beginning,  the  first  recorded 
minute  will  be  given  below  exactly  as  found  on 
the  book: 

''April  the  5th,  1828.  Met  in  Conference  the 
names  of  the  members  inrold  as  follows  Males 
Robertson  Pistole  Ralph  freeman   thomas  Allen 


River  Baptist  Church  71 

Wyatt  Nance  Amon  Yarborough  females  Sary  Lee 
Elizabeth  Pistole  Macy  Lee 

Brother  wiat  Nance  expressed  a  desire  that 
the  church  should  releave  him  from  acting  as 
Clark.  .  he  was  releaved.  .  and  Brother  Amon 
Yarborough  was  appointed  Clark  in  his  room  .  . — 
and  it  was  considered  the  duty  of  the  Clark  to 
keep  a  correct  account  of  all  the  proceedings  of 
the  church.  .  and  at  every  conference  to  inroal  the 
names  of  the  members  present 

a  Charge  laid  in  by  the  dark  against  Brother 
(Blank)  for  abuse  that  he  gave  his  wife  with  out 
provication  he  (Brother  Blank)  not  being  present 
it  was  laid  over  untill  the  next  meating  Prayer 
was  made  by  Brother  Ralph  and  may  the  lord 
direct  us  all  in  the  use  of  the  truth  and  teach 
us  our  duty  and  our  dependence  on  him." 

It  is  pleasant  to  record  that  at  the  next  con- 
ference everything  was  smoothed  out  and  the 
church  moved  on  in  the  even  tenor  of  'her  way. 
Brother  "Blank"  was  a  deacon  and  a  good  man, 
but  was  very  plain  spoken,  which  sometimes  got 
him  into  a  little  trouble. 

The  oldest  Roll  will  be  inserted  in  the  back  of 
the  book  with  several  other  items  of  interest 
under  the  heading  of  "Directory." 

May  the  3rd,  1828.  "The  Arm  of  Rocky 
River  at  Brown  Creek  petitioned  for  the  Eldership 
of  the  church  to  meet  with  them  Saturday  before 
the  fourth  Lord's  Day  in  May.  Ralf  Freeman, 
Thomas  Allen  and  A.  Yarborough  was  appointed 
to  meet  with  them."  Nothing  is  further  said  as 
to  the  purpose  of  the  call,  but  it  is  most  sure 
they  wanted  to  be  constituted  into  a  regular 
church  as  1828  is  the  date  of  their  organization. 

October,  1828.  "John  Culpeper,  Ralf  Freeman 
and  Thomas  Allen  appointed  delegates  to  the  Pee 


72  History  of  The  Rocky 

Dee  Association." 

Nothing  recorded  of  any  importance  till — 
May,  1829.  Here  is  recorded  a  fine  point  of 
history— "The  2nd  Sabbath  in  May,  1829,  the 
church  convened  at  Bethlehem  Meeting  House. 
A  door  was  opened,  Elizabeth  Billingsly  joined 
by  letter  and  Ingram's  Precilla  and  Radall's  Judith 
by  baptism,  and  their  names  enrooled  among  the 
.members."  (of  Rocky  River). 

This  Arm  was  finally  constituted  into  a  regular 
church,  but  sided  with  the  anti-mission  element 
and  has  long  been  extinct.  The  graveyard  started 
there  is  still  in  use  and  lies  right  back  of  the 
William  Little  old  home. 

July,  1829.  At  the  Annual  meeting  and  also 
at  the  September  meeting  one  "Father"  Horry  is 
mentioned.  This  is  a  South  Carolina  name  and 
he  does  not  again  appear. 

April,  1830.  Kendall's  requests  constituting. 
The  minutes  given  below: 

"The  Rocky  River  Baptist  Church  under  the 
cear  of  Elder  John  Culpeper  met.  rec'd  a  letter 
from  the  Long  Creek  Arm  by  the  hand  of  Job 
Calloway  requesting  dismission  from  the  Church 
and  desired  the  Eldership  of  the  Church  to  attend 
at  Kindols  Meeting  House  the  Saturday  before 
the  fifth  Lord's  Day  in  may  next  for  the  ex- 
amination of  said  Arm  for  Constitution.  Elder 
Ralf  Freeman,  Thomas  Allen  Amon  Yarborough, 
Wyatt  Nance  was  appointed  to  attend  with 
them." 

There  seems  to  be  no  reason  to  doubt  that 
Kendall's  was  organized  at  that  date.  Mission 
or  branch  churches  as  we  call  them  now  were 
called  "Arms"  by  this  old  mother  church.  She 
had  quite  a  number.  The  one  mentioned  above 
is  and  has  always  been  a  strong  country  church 


River  Baptist  Church  73 

composed  of  well-to-do  and  influential  farmers. 
It  is  located  two  miles  West  of  New  London  and 
is  a  part  of  this  pastoral  field. 

July,  1830.  Two  items  of  interest  recorded  at 
this  conference.  "Elder  Ralf  Freeman  appointed 
to  attend  the  constitution  of  the  Arm  at  the  Fork 
of  Little  River,  on  Suggs'  Creek."  This  was 
probably  not  an  Arm  of  Rocky  River  but  of  some 
other  church  in  Montgomery  or  Richmond  coun- 
ties. The  other  item  shows  their  custom  of  re- 
cording the  names  of  contributors,  even  when 
the  amounts  were  small.  "Received  contributions 
to  purchase  wine  for  the  communion: 

Wyatt  Nance  25  cents 

Robertson  Pistole       25     " 

Nicev  More  20     " 

Joseph  K.  Pond  11     " 


81  cents 

October,  1830.  "Received  a  request  from 
Lawyer's  Springs  church  craving  the  Eldership 
of  our  church  to  attend  with  them  on  the  20  inst. 
to  examine  Robert  M.  Nab  for  ordination.  Rev. 
John  Culpeper,  Wiatt  Nance,  Thomas  Allen  and 
Amon  Yarborough  appointed."  The  handwriting 
here  is  not  that  of  the  regular  clerk.  It  is  an 
elegant  hand,  the  spelling  good  and  does  not  again 
occur  in  the  book  save  when  some  unusual  docu- 
ment is  to  be  recorded.  Every  suspicion  seems 
to  point  to  Elder  John  Culpeper,  Sr.,  as  the  writer. 

December  the  4th,  1830.  "A  door  being  open- 
ed John  Culpeper  Jun.  and  Rebecca  Sikes  was  re- 
ceived by  experience." 

There  is  to  be  more  about  John  Jr.,  further 
oru 

March  4th,  1831.  "The  Arm  at  Bethlehem  is 
granted  the  privilege  of  being  constituted  into  a 


74  History  of  The  Rocky 

local  body."    Its  location,  etc.,  was  noted  above. 

April,  1831.  "John  Culpeper  Jr.  desired 
liberty  of  the  church  to  exercise  a  gift.  He  was 
liberated.*' 

July  1st,  1831  conference  was  remarkable  for 
its  brevity.  "The  R.  River  church  met  in  con- 
ference and  rec'd 

John  Culpeper  25  cents 

Wyatt  Nance  25     " 

Nicey  Moore  25     " 


75  cents 

October,  1831.  Here  appears  the  most  beau- 
tiful hand  anywhere  to  be  found  in  this  old  book, 
thought  to  be  that  of  John  Culpeper,  Jr.,  and  is  an 
improvement  over  that  supposed  to  be  his  father's 
in  the  records  for  November,  1830. 

Additions  this  year  are  more  frequent  and  in 
larger  numbers  than  heretofore.  The  great  revival 
spoken  of  in  the  Baptist  Triennial  Register  as  in 
1831-33  is  on  the  way.  This  revival  brings  Rocky 
River  to  her  highest  peak  in  membership  reported 
by  the  Register  of  1835,  as  280. 

March  the  first  day,  1832.  "Appointed  our 
brethren  Elder  John  Culpeper,  Thomas  Allen  and 
Anion  Yarborough  messengers  to  the  Union 
meeting.  Also  unanimously  agreed  that  Jerusalem 
Meeting  House  on  Richardson  Creek  shall  be  an 
Arm  of  Rocky  River  Church."  This  is  the  first 
mention  made  of  a  Union  meeting. 

Sept.  1st,  1832.  "The  Church  believing  that 
Brother  John  Culpeper  Jr.  was  ripe  for  ordination, 
Petitioned  the  following  sister  churches  for  their 
Eldership,  viz. — High  Hill,  Meadow  Creek,  Deep 
Creek  and  Cedar  Creek  to  attend  at  Jerusalem 
the  Saturday  before  the  Second  Lord's  Day  in 
October  next  to  assist  in  the  ordination." 


River  Baptist  Church  75 

Oct.  13th  day,  1832,  the  ordination  took  place 
according  to  announcement.  How  many  churches 
sent  "Elderships"  is  not  known.  Only  Mr.  Cul- 
peper,  Sr.,  and  Elder  Joel  Gullege  are  mentioned 
as  taking  part.  It  is  likely  that  Mr.  Culpeper,  Jr., 
was  acting  as  pastor  at  Jerusalem  is  the  reason 
he  was  ordained  there  instead  of  at  his  home 
church. 

January  5th,  1833.  "Noah  Barber  and  Nancy 
Smith,  Amon  Yarborough  and\  wife,  Elizabeth 
and  his  son  James  Yarborough  and  his  daughter 
Sarah  Smith,  dismissed  by  letter.  Amon  Yarbor 
ough  resigned  and  James  Benton  appointed  Clerk. 
Bro.  Yarborough  had  served  almost  five  years. 
These  got  their  letters  on  the  verge  of  their  mov- 
ing to  Alabama.  None  of  them  ever  returned. 
The  name  is  lost  in  the  community.  He  was  a 
great  uncle  of  the  writer's  mother. 

Febuary  and  March  1833.  No  conferences  on 
account  of  extremely  cold  wreather. 

April  and  May  1833.  A  church  trial  the  only 
thing  of  interest. 

June  1833.  Union  meeting  at  Cedar  Creek 
(Lilesville). 

November,  1833.  "No  conference  on  account 
of  the  Convention,  as  we  had  to  go  there  on 
business."  Was  this  the  Baptist  State  Conven- 
tion, which  then  sometimes  met  with  country 
churches  ? 

The  year  1834  was  well  nigh  a  blank  so  far 
as  the  records  show.  A  note  by  the  clerk  partly 
explains  this.  "We  have  had  no  conferences  in 
consequence  of  our  pastor  having  to  travel  as 
Agent  for  the  Baptist  State  Convention  of  North 
Carolina,  since  the  30th  day  of  November,  last, 
until  July,  1834." 

July  26,  1834.     "Brother  John  Culpeper,  Jr., 


76  History  of  The  Rocky 

asks  for  a  letter  of  dismission  and  it  was  granted 
him."  He  was  pastor  at  Cedar  Creek  and  very 
likely  moved  to  that  section. 

No  more  records  of  any  business  till  July  the 
4th,  1.835,  at  which  time  Elizabeth  Davis,  Mary 
Lee  and  Aily,  a  black  woman  were  received  by 
letter. 

From  October  5th,  1835  to  January  3rd,  1836, 
no  record. 

Next  record  is  for  July  29th,  1836.  No  con- 
ference on  account  of  a  great  rain  that  crowded 
the  house  so  full  that  no  business  could  be  carried 
on.  This  after  the  Saturday's  preaching  service 
when  visitors  had  been  dismissed. 

From  October  1836  to  January,  1837,  no 
records. 

Fourth  Sunday  in  July,  1837.     James  Benton 
elected  deacon. 

1838  to  1839  almost  a  blank. 

January,  1840.  The  records  for  January  seem 
to  be  a  sort  of  summary  for  1839,  and  are  as 
follows :  "The  Baptist  church  of  Christ  this  year 
have  met  and  held  their  regular  conference  meet- 
ings with  two  exceptions.  We  have  had  no  busi- 
ness worth  recording  this  year.  We  met  and 
held  our  yearly  meeting  in  July.  The  Church 
proceeded  to  administer  and  partake  of  the  Lord's 
Supper.  This  is  the  second  time  the  Lord's  Sup- 
per is  mentioned.  The  first  was  July  3rd,  1830, 
ten  years  before. 

October,  1840.  After  the  summary  written 
above,  nothing  more  occurs  on  the  book  till  Oc- 
tober when  John  Culpeper  is  appointed  delegate 
to  the  Association.  This  is  the  last  year  of  Mr. 
Culpeper  with  the  church  and  the  last  year  of 
his  life  on  the  earth.  His  last  service  so  far  as 
the  records  go  was  to  represent  the  church  at  the 


River  Baptist  Church  77 

Pee  Dee  Association. 

1841.  The  last  mention  made  of  Mr.  Cul- 
peper  was  in  these  words  recorded  in  1841  by 
the  clerk:  "After  the  death  of  our  pastor,  Elder 
John  Culpeper,  Senior,  the  church  was  some  time 
without  a  pastor  in  1841."  And  further,  "The 
Church  called  to  the  pastoral  care  of  the  church 
the  Rev.  Samuel  P.  Morton,  who  officiated  as  pas- 
tor for  one  year.  He  attended  when  it  was  con- 
venient. The  river  was  often  very  high  and  he 
could  not  cross  to  his  appointments.  There  was 
nothing'  transpired  during  the  year  worth  record- 
ing." 

Two  very  important  and  hitherto  unsettled 
facts  are  brought  out  by  this  notation  of  the  clerk. 
First,  the  end  of  John  Culpeper's  ministry,  and, 
second,  the  beginning  of  S.  P.  Morton's  pastor- 
ate. Mr.  Culpeper  had  preached  as  pastor  for 
well  nigh,  if  not,  quite  50  years;  Brother  Morton 
began  in  1841  and  with  some  interruptions  served 
up  to  1874,  a  period  of  29  years. 

1842.  Rev.  William  A.  Morris  takes  charge 
as  pastor  and  serves  three  years.  The  year  was 
uneventful.  The  clerk  records  at  the  July  con- 
ference, "For  lack  of  interest,  postponed  the 
sacrament  till  next  meeting." 

September,  1842.  William  J.  Williams  and 
wife  united  with  tha  church,  evidently  by  state- 
ment as  he  ihad  been  excluded  from  Betheny 
church  for  his  belief  in  missions.  This  fully  ex- 
plains itself  in  a  letter  of  his  inserted  elsewhere 
in  this  book. 

October,  1842.  James  Benton  resigns  as  clerk 
after  having  served  for  ten  years.  The  church's 
recent  accession,  W.  J.  Williams,  was  elected  in 
his  place.  He  was  a  brother  of  fine  intelligence. 
His  handwriting,  spelling  and  composition  far  sur- 


78  History  of  The  Rocky 

passed  any  clerk  of  his  day. 

1843.  But  little  recorded  for  this  year.  At 
the  September  conference  two  very  worthy  men 
united  with  the  church.  The  Clerk  records: 
"Opened  a  door  for  the  reception  of  members, 
whereupon,  Robert  N.  Allen  and  Uriah  Staton 
came  forward;  joined  the  church  by  experience 
and  was  baptized  on  the  Lord's  Day  following." 

It  is  doubtful  whether  two  more  useful  mem- 
bers ever  joined  on  the  same  day.  They  were 
soon  elected  deacons  and  served  to  the  end  of 
their  days. 


Trouble  Among  Church  Officials. 

If  the  insertion  of  the  following  Committee 
Report  is  to  any  degree  considered  indiscreet  by 
the  reader,  it  is  hoped  he  will  pardon  and  under- 
stand that  it  is  preserved  to  show  the  sweetness 
of  the  spirit  of  the  committee  and  the  brethren 
involved  in  this  misunderstanding  85  years  ago. 

"After  receiving  all  the  information  which  it  is 
in  their  power  to  obtain,  Brother  Benton  did  not 
act  with  that  degree  of  caution  and  decision  to 
which  the  importance  of  the  subject  was  entitled; 
yet  I  do  not  see  that  he  acted  dishonest  in  any 
degree,  but  attribute  the  errors  into  which  he  has 
unfortunately  fallen  to  the  infirmities  of  human 
nature,  all  of  which  he  frankly  owns  and  appears 
to  regret.  As  to  Brother  Morris,  we  think  he 
acted  rather  hastily  in  using  some  expressions 
in  time  of  excitement  which  he  seems  deeply  to 
regret  and  to  acknowledge  his  fault.  This  pastor 
and  clerk  were  brothers-in-law. 

"We  your  Committee  would  earnestly  and  af- 
fectionately recommend  to  the  above  brethren, 
and  to  others,  to  be  more  careful  for  the  future 
how  to  act  and  pray  to  the  Lord  for  grace  to 


River  Baptist  Church  79 

enable   them,   at  all   times,  to   say  and  do  that 
which  is  well  pleasing  in  His  sight,  that  we  give 
none  occasion  to  the  adversary  to  speak  reproach- 
fully.   All  of  which  is  respectfully  submitted. 
Joel  Gullege,  Chrm. 
Samuel  Tyson, 
John  Allen, 
Samuel  Smith." 

(Notation: — This  report  having  been  made  out 
on  the  17th  of  August  and  not  minuted  till  the 
present  October  the  1st,  1843.) 

This  misunderstanding  was  between  the  pas- 
tor and  a  former  clerk.  It  seems  to  have  been 
caused  by  a  business  transaction.  One  of  the 
pastor's  daughters  called  for  her  church  letter, 
remained  out  a  few  months  and  returned  it.  Has 
human  nature  changed  much  in  a  hundred  years  ? 

Do  church  trials  kill  evangelism?  Not  if  con- 
ducted in  the  Spirit  as  the  one  above  recorded. 
This  was  an  unusually  fruitful  year  with  the  old 
Church.  New  members  came  at  almost  every 
monthly  conference.  Even  in  cold  December  a 
large  number  was  baptized.  The  October  minutes 
are  given: 

"October,  1843.  On  Saturday  before  the  third 
Lord's  day  in  October,  1843,  J.  Wilkinson  preach- 
ed. After  which  the  church  sat  in  conference. 
A  door  was  opened  for  the  reception  of  members : 
Margaret  J.  Lanier,  and  Clement  Ramsey  came 
forward  and  joined  by  experience,  and  were  bap- 
tized on  the  first  Lord's  Day  in  November,  1843." 

This  J.  Wilkinson  was  from  South  Carolina. 

May  1844.  Nothing  on  the  records  till  this 
time.  "The  church  appointed  another  Clerk  in 
place  of  Mr.  Williams,  resigned.  Mr.  James 
Broadaway  was  unanimously  chosen  to  this  place. 

"A  committee  containing  of  the  Clerk,  James 


80  History  of  The  Rocky 

Benton,  Stark  Ramsey,  Mason  W.  Winfield  and 
Sarah  Smith  was  appointed  to  investigate  the 
conduct  of  certain  members  and  report  in  two 
months. 

"It  was  then  agreed  that  on  Saturday  before 
the  4th  Lord's  Day  in  July  next,  Lord  willing, 
the  ordination  of  Brethren  John  Allen  and  Robert 
N.  Allen  as  deacons  will  take  place.  They  were 
ordained  in  July  by  Elders  Jonathan  Davis, 
Dwight  Hayes,  Jonathan  Wilkinson  and  W.  A. 
Morris.  On  motion  the  clerk,  James  Benton,  and 
A.  Turner  was  appointed  to  invite  ministers  to 
attend  our  Yearly  Meeting." 

Here  we  find  James  Broadaway  becomes  Clerk, 
a  position  he  holds  till  1875,  a  period  of  29  years. 
Also,  a  note  should  be  made  of  some  of  the  preach- 
ers named  on  the  ordaining  Presbytery  above. 
Jonathan  Davis  was  Temperance  Agent  from  S. 
C.  J.  Wilkinson,  mentioned  in  October  before, 
was  the  Jonathan  Wilkinson  mentioned  here. 
Again,  the  committee  appointed  above  to  invite 
ministerial  help  in  the  annual  revival  meeting  was 
without  precedent.  This  was  kept  up  and  be- 
came a  fixed  custom. 

"A  committee  consisting  of  James  Broadaway, 
John  Allen  and  Ausbon  Turner  appointed  to  draft 
Rules  of  Decorum." 

July,  1844.  A  final  separation  is  recorded  in 
the  minutes  for  Friday  before  the  Fourth  Sunday 
in  July,  1844.  "Brother  Robert  N.  Allen  report- 
ed that  he  had  conversed  with  the  following 
persons,  to-wit : — Robertson  Pistole,  Wyatt  Nance, 
Ephriam  Newsom  and  Carey  Tolson,  who  all  said 
they  wanted  their  names  taken  off  of  the  church 
book  and  did  not  consider  themselves  members  of 
this  church.  Brother  Uriah  Staton  made  a 
similar  statement  in  regard  to  some  female  mem- 


River  Baptist  Church  81 

bars  he  had  visited.  On  motion  the  above  delin- 
quent members  were  excluded." 

A  Committee  had  labored  with  these  brethren 
before  and  they  were  told  that  they  never  would 
attend  another  Roll  call  unless  the  Mother  Church 
would  promise  never  to  take  another  collection 
for  missions. 

November,  1844.  Elder  Jonathan  Davis  is 
supplying  for  the  church  as  their  pastor,  William 
A.  Morris,  had  died. 

1845,  January  4th.  A  lecture  by  Jonathan 
Davis.  Sunday,  the  12th  of  January,  1845,  the 
minutes  follow:  "Brother  Dwight  Hayes  preach- 
ed from  Rev.  the  2  chapter  and  10  verse.  And 
after  divine  worship  a  dore  was  opened  for  the 
Reception  of  members  and  none  joined.  And  then 
proceeded  to  appoint  a  pastor  after  the  removal 
by  death  of  our  dear  beloved  pastor,  William  A. 
Morris.  The  reverent  D.  Hayes  was  unanimous 
appointed  to  the  pastoril  cear  of  the  Rocky  River 
church  of  Christ,  and  may  the  Lord  revive  us." 

Thursday,  February  13th,  1845.  Rev.  Jas.  M. 
Thomas  preached  from  Psalms  32:8.  Then  re- 
tired to  the  water  and  baptized  Polly  Ramsey,  a 
waiting  candidate.  Nothing  whatever  is  known 
of  this  man  Thomas. 

March  conference,  1845.  "Elder  Samuel 
Ducenberry  preached  from  1  Peter  3:17,  and  act- 
ed as  moderator." 

April,  1845.  A  Memorial  for  Rev.  William  A. 
Morris  was  offered  and  received.  He  was  spoken 
of  in  the  highest  terms. 

June,  1845.  Delegates  appointed  to  the  Union 
Meeting  at  Bethel  Church,  Montgomery  County. 

August,  1845.  The  Pee  Dee  Union  met  with 
Rocky  River  Church. 

October,  1845.    Pee  Dee  Association  met  with 


82  History  of  The  Rocky 

Pleasant  Grove  (Flat  Fork)  this  year.  Dwight 
Hayes  is  thought  to  have  served  the  church  as 
pastor,  a  part  if  not  through  the  year. 

1846.  But  few  business  meetings  held  during 
the  year.  The  Clerk  makes  note  of  this.  No 
pastor  is  mentioned  through  the  year,  but  there 
is  some  reason  to  believe  that  Rev.  S.  P.  Morton 
served. 

1847.  Another  dull  year.  Rev.  S.  P.  Morton 
is  preaching  some  but  is  not  mentioned  as  pastor. 

1848.  S.  P.  Morton  is  preaching  regularly  'but 
no  mention  made  of  a  call.  Not  till  May  was 
there  an  addition  to  the  church. 

June  Conference,  1848.  "Rev.  S.  P.  Morton 
preached,  after  which  a  regular  conference  was 
held.  A  committee  appointed  to  meet  Bro.  S. 
Snider  at  the  home  of  sister  Temperance  Austin's 
in  Stanly  county  to  receive  members  and  form  an 
Arm  of  Rocky  River  church.  Brethren  A.  Turner, 
R.  N.  Allen  and  Merreander  Curlee  composing  the 
Committee."  This  may  have  been  constituted  a 
church  later  on.  If  so,  it  was  most  likely  named 
Austin's  Grove.  The  location  is  thought  to  be  be- 
tween Big  Lick  and  the  river.  If  ever  a  regular 
church  it  has  long  since  been  extinct. 

Friday,  July  the  28th,  1848.  Rev.  John  Broad- 
away  preached.  There  is  some  revival  spirit 
manifested  this  year.  The  Clerk  records  the  fol- 
lowing : 

"Saturday  a  door  was  opened  of  privilege  & 
3  came  forward,  Sarah  Curlee,  Beady  Carpenter 
and  Miss  Ingram's  Molly:  Monday  Simeon  Lee 
came  forward:  Tuesday  Staton's  Mack:  Wednes- 
day the  2on  day  of  August,  Louisa  L.  Allen  and 
Thomas  Avitt."  The  meeting  closed  that  day, 
Wednesday,  with  the  baptizing. 

Some  items  of  interest  are  found  in  the  above 


Ttiver  Baptist  Church  83 

minutes : 

Rev.  John  Broadaway  is  mentioned  here  as 
a  preacher  for  the  first  and  only  time.  He  was 
a  good  man  of  considerable  means  but  was  prob- 
ably only  a  licensed  preacher.  He  married  a  sister 
of  Uriah  Staton. 

Colored  members  bore  only  given  names  and 
were  designated  as  belonging  to  certain  masters. 

Meetings  then  did  not  last  long,  usually  clos- 
ing on  Tuesday  or  Wednesday  after  the  opening 
Sabbath. 

Sunday,  as  we  call  it,  was  never  spoken  of 
other  than  as  the  Lord's  Day  or  Sabbath.  It 
sounds  well  yet. 

Jan.  1849.  Samuel  P.  Morton  presents  his 
letter  from  Ebenezer,  Stanly  County.  It  was 
dated  December,  1848.  This  is  still  on  file  and 
unsoiled. 

This  was  an  unfruitful  year.  Bro.  Uriah 
Staton's  Mariah  the  only  addition  during  the  year. 
Pee  Dee  Association  met  at  Brown  Creek. 

1850.  Church  met  with  great  regularity.  The 
annual  meeting  brought  great  results.  The  meet- 
ing lasted  for  13  days  with  the  following  ad- 
ditions: Nancy  Avitt,  Nellie  Burleyson,  Martha 
Hill,  Eliza  A.  Allen,  Hartwell  M.  Broadaway, 
Andrew  Hooks,  Allen  Hill,  Joshua  Hudson,  Alex- 
ander Jones,  William  Carpenter,  James  Curlee, 
Jas.  G.  Mask  and  Wiley  Jones.  After  one  Elder 
***  Bessent  preached. 

Then  in  September  and  October,  other  addi- 
tions, including  the  father  of  the  writer,  Cullen 
Brooks.  At  this  conference,  "Bro.  Uriah  Staton 
reported  that  brother  (blank)  said  he  wodent 
attend  church  meeting  and  they  mite  scrach  him 
off  and  he  was  unanimous  discommunicated." 
The   Pee    Dee    Association    met    with    Ebenezer, 


84  History  of  The  Rocky 

Stanly  County. 

1851.  Church  meets  regularly  but  little  busi- 
ness transacted.  One  brother  excluded  for 
stealing  and  a  woman  of  the  same  family  •'name 
excluded  for  joining  the  Methodist  church.  Won- 
der if  they  were  not  husband  and  wife?  They 
were  not  natives  and  were  likely  renters  in  the 
community. 

At  the  March  meeting  Rev.  E.  Davis  preached. 
Delegates  appointed  to  the  Union  at  Gum  Springs. 
This  is  the  first  mention  of  this  church. 

1852.  Nothing  much  to  record.  At  the  Febru- 
ary conference  delegates  appointed  to  Union  at 
Mineral  Springs.  This  church  is  here  first  men- 
tioned. 

July  Conference.  Brethren  S.  P.  Morton, 
Cullen  Brooks  and  J.  M.  Broadaway  sent  as  mes- 
sengers to  the  Union  at  Brown  Creek. 

Annual  Meeting  in  July.  No  record  and  it  is 
supposed  no  additions.  The  year  closed  without 
any  mention  of  additions.  Some  church  trials 
and  many  citations  for  non-attendance.  Thomas 
Avitt,  a  licentiate  of  the  church,  preached  in 
September.  He  was  a  very  good  old  man,  but 
had  no  gifts  as  a  public  speaker. 

1853.  Records  scant  and  uneventful.  The 
Union  met  here  in  July;  followed  by  the  "July" 
meeting  which  continued  for  eleven  days,  brought 
good  results.  Four  united  to  the  church,  but 
names  not  given. 

1854.  January.  Rev.  S.  P.  Morton  still  serving 
as  pastor.  The  Pee  Dee  Association  met  with 
Cedar  Creek  this  year  on  Friday  before  the  fourth 
Sabbath  in  September,  1855.  The  Clerk  fails  to 
make  any  note  of  the  Annual  meeting  or  the 
meeting  place  of  the  Association. 

October    Conference.     "Ann    Mariah    Lanier, 


River  Baptist  Church  85 

Sarah  Staton  and  Margaret  J.  Floyd  united  toy 
experience.  Tnere  were  also  some  additions  at 
the  November  meeting-.  The  baptism  was  set  for 
the  third  Sunday  in  December."  Thus  ended  the 
year  1855. 

1856.  The  year  was  not  a  prosperous  one. 
One  sister  joined  by  letter.  The  church  met 
regularly  but  accomplished  little.  A  charge  was 
brought  by  one  of  the  Deacons  against  a  sister 
which  caused  a  division  in  the  church,  causing 
the  pastor,  S.  P.  Morton,  to  resign.  However,  at 
the  January,  1857  conference  the  trouble  was 
■settled  and  the  pastor  remained. 

1857.  The  first  thing  of  note  is  recorded  in 
April.  The  death  of  Deacon  John  Allen  is  men- 
tioned. Uriah  Staton  is  elected  to  take  his  place. 
Two  interesting  things  is  found  on  the  records. 
First,  at  the  October  meeting  the  delegates  were 
elected  to  attend  the  Brown  Creek  instead  of  the 
Pee  Dee  as  formally.  The  Brown  Creek  ihad  been 
organized  in  1854  for  its  first  session  in  1855  to 
be  held  at  Monroe.  As  a  number  of  the  churches 
composing  the  Pee  Dee  were  East  of  the  river 
it  is  supposed  Rocky  River  united  as  a  mat- 
ter of  convenience  in  1857. 

The  second  item  is  the  calling  of  one  Crockett 
to  preach  twice  a  month  during  the  year.  It  is 
not  thought  he  served  as  pastor  at  all.  He 
is  not  mentioned  further. 

1858.  The  minutes  from  January  to  the 
fourth  Saturday  in  July  are  nothing  more  than 
a  statement  of  the  church  having  met  and  hold- 
ing worship. 

July,  1858.  John  Rinehart  joined  by  baptism 
and  the  same  day  given  the  liberty  to  preach.  He 
is  nowhere  else  mentioned. 

At    the   September  and   November  meetings 


History  of  The  Rocky 


there  were  several  additions;  results  of  the  July 
meeting,  no  doubt. 

1859.  No  business  whatever  till  the  yearly 
July  Meeting.  This  revival  meeting  continued 
for  thirteen  days  and  resulted  in  twenty-one  ad- 
ditions. No  greater  ingathering  is  on  record 
before  or  since. 

The  Brown  Creek  met  this  year  with  Meadow 
Branch  church,  Union  county,  now  in  the  village 
of  Wingate  and  also  at  the  location  of  Wingate 
Junk>r  College.  How  things  and  places  as  well 
as  "times"  have  changed!  Following  are  the 
delegates  for  that  year:  Cullen  Brooks,  John 
Livingston  and  Elder  S.  P.  Morton. 

At  the  December  conference,  Rev.  S.  P.  Mor- 
ton was  re-elected  pastor. 

It  was  recorded  for  October  that  J.  M.  Tomlin- 
son,  Martha  Martin,  William  Lanier  and  George 
Morton  were  received.  This  George  Morton  was 
evidently  a  son  of  the  pastor,  S.  P.  Morton.  He 
soon  moved  to  Texas  and  never  returned. 

1860  was  a  fruitless  year.  Some  churches  are 
like  fruit  trees,  who  bear  only  every  other  year. 
One  good  woman,  Sister  Rhoda  Staton,  joined  dur- 
ing the  year. 

1861.  The  church  met  with  fine  regularity, 
though  business  matters  and  additions  seemed  at 
a  standstill.  Two  brethren  of  some  prominence 
united  during  the  year,  namely,  J.  Q.  Mills  and 
H.  D.  Kendall.  The  Church  families  were  giving 
their  sons  to  the  War,  and  their  minds  necessarily 
distracted  by  war  conditions.  It  is  remarkable 
that  the  War  is  not  mentioned  on  the  records  in 
one  single  instance  during  the  entire  war. 

The  writer  of  this  sketch  could  wish  more 
had  been  on  the  records  for  1861,  as  this  is  his 
natal  year. 


River  Baptist  Church  87 

1862.  Some  regularity  in  preaching  services 
but  little  else.  One  brother  excluded  for  non- 
attendance.  No  additions.  Twice  during  the 
year,  March  and  April,  one  Edmond  Morton 
preached. 

1863.  S.  P.  Morton  still  pastor.  In  February 
the  Rules  of  Decorum  ordered  revised.  At  the 
July  meeting  Shepard  Lee  and  wife  and  Martha 
Kelly  joined  'by  experience.  In  September  Devo- 
tion Hancock  united  by  experience  and  was  bap- 
tized on  the  Sabbath  with  those  who  joined  in 
July  last. 

1864.  Again  at  their  first  meeting  in  the  new 
year  of  1864,  S.  P.  Morton  was  re-elected  pastor. 

Minutes  of  the  March  meeting  are  of  some 
general  interest.  Copied  in  full:  Proceedings  of 
the  March  meeting.  "After  divine  worship,  the 
Rocky  River  church  sat  in  conference.  Applica- 
tion was  made  for  Bro.  Archelaus  Bennett  to 
establish  a  Arm  from  the  church  (Rocky  River)  at 
the  Red  Hill  School  House.  Also,  application  was 
made  by  Bro.  S.  P.  Morton  to  establish  a  Arm  at 
the  Carpenter  School  House.  And  both  of  the 
applications  was  unanimously  granted." 

The  Red  Hill  church  is  four  miles  south-east 
from  Rocky  River.  It  grew  very  rapidly  and  is 
now  a  good  average  country  church.  The  Car- 
penter's School  House  is  thought  to  have  resulted 
in  the  formation  of  the  present  Rocky  Mount 
church,  six  miles  up  the  river  and  near  the  Union 
County  line. 

September  Conference.  "Sofronia  Allen  and 
Eliza  Lee  united  by  experience." 

"The  church  refused  to  advance  Bro.  Thomas 
Avitt  beyond  that  of  licentiate  in  the  exercise  of 
his  ministerial  gifts.  Brown  Creek  Association 
to  meet  with  them  in  October." 


History  of  The  Rocky 


1865.  The  church  kept  up  her  preaching  ser- 
vices and  seemed  to  be  holding  together  fairly 
well.     No  advancement  along  any  line  noted. 

1866.  The  work  was  about  as  in  the  previous 
year.  In  the  latter  part  of  the  year  Edmond 
L.  Davis  is  elected  pastor  for  the  year  1867. 

1867.  No  marked  progress  discovered.  Brown 
Creek  Association  meets  with  Meadow  Branch 
again.  Delegates,  S.  P.  Morton,  J.  M.  Broadaway 
and  D.  D.  Davis. 

1868.  S.  P.  Morton  again  in  the  pulpit.  "The 
church  licensed  two  former  slaves,  James  Jackson 
and  Mack  Staton,  to  preach  to  their  colored 
friends."  These  were  good  and  faithful  darkies 
till  the  day  of  their  death.  The  only  addition 
recorded  was  that  of  sister  Polly  Wilhoit,  wife 
of  Rev.  G.  0.  Wilhoit. 

1869.  Thomas  Avitt  preached  at  the  Febru- 
ary meeting.  Nothing  more  recorded  till  the 
July  meeting.  "The  following  received  by  ex- 
perience and  baptism:  Richard  Poplin  and  wife 
Mary  Poplin,  Lucy  Crump,  Charlotte  Lee  and 
Sarah  Avitt." 

The  writer  remembers  hearing  these  give 
their  Christian  experience  when  only  eight  years 
of  age. 

1869-1872.  From  July,  1869  to  May,  1872, 
there  is  not  a  single  item  on  record.  These  lapses 
in  the  records  are  deeply  regretted.  But  little  is 
recorded  in  1872. 

1872-1875.  No  record  till  mention  is  made  in 
1875  of  Rev.  C.  C.  Foreman  being  pastor.  No 
additions  mentioned  this  year.  Joshua  Hudson 
nnd  wife  dismissed  by  letter.  Rev.  Jesse  Wheeler, 
of  Monroe,  and  Rev.  N.  B.  Cobb  invited  to  assist 
in  the  July  Meeting. 

1876-1877.    Rev.  A.  C.  Davis  has  entered  the 


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River  Baptist  Church  89 

ministry  and  is  serving  the  church.  He  attended 
promptly  but  the  records  kept  by  some  unknown 
Clerk  are  too  brief  to  be  informing. 

1878.  Eclmond  L.  Davis  takes  charge  as  pas- 
tor. The  records  are  fragmentary  and  uninform- 
ing.  During  the  year  S.  H.  McLendon  was  elect- 
ed Clerk.  He  was  competent  but  being  a  man  of 
large  business  did  not  attend  so  well  on  Satur- 
days.   He  served  four  years. 

1879.  Edmond  Davis  is  serving  his  second 
year.  In  October,  Rev.  John  J.  McLendon  preach- 
ed. He  was  attending  or  just  out  of  Furman 
College.  He  was  a  good  man,  but  never  served 
many  churches.  He  married  a  sister  of  Dr.  A.  T. 
Robertson. 

1880.  Rev.  J.  W.  Phifer,  of  Union  county, 
^served  as  pastor  a  part  or  all  the  year. 

Rev.  W.  G.  Rollins,  of  Monroe,  and  others  in- 
vited to  aid  in  the  July  Meeting. 

1881.  Rev.  G.  0.  Wilhoit  pastor.  Brother  J. 
W.  Burns  and  two  daughters  brought  letters  from 
Olive  Branch  this  year.  He  was  later  made  a 
deacon.  W.  B.  Harrell  and  John  E.  King  invited 
to  aid  in  revival  meeting. 

1882.  Decided  to  build  a  new  church  on  the 
old  Arbor  site.  D.  Hancock,  J.  W.  Burns,  and  W. 
A.  Waddell,  Building  Committee;  Uriah  Staton, 
J.  E.  Efird,  and  R.  A.  Sikes,  Finance  Committee. 
The  contract  was  let  to  S.  W.  Birmingham  and 
the  work  to  be  completed  by  October.  The  ceiling 
was  not  in  the  first  contract  and  was  done  later. 
At  the  close  of  this  conference  in  March  a  sub- 
scription from  people  living  in  or  near  Norwood 
was  handed  in  for  the  benefit  of  Rev.  S.  P.  Mor- 
ton to  aid  him  in  his  last  days:  John  Tyson,  $1.00; 
Henry  Mills,  $1.00;  R.  H.  Harris,  $1.00;  W.  Kirk, 
50  cents;  Hettie  Blalock,  25  cents;  N.  Pennington, 


History  of  The  Rocky 


5  cents;  J.  B.  Parker,  50  cents;  total  $4.30.  The 
Union  meeting  met  here  Friday  before  the  5th 
Sunday  in  July.  Rev.  N.  R.  Pittman,  then  pastor 
of  Wadesboro,  preached  the  introductory  sermon. 

Brother  Pittman  remained  through  the  re- 
vival, doing  the  preaching  and  none  of  the  young- 
er members  remember  a  greater  one  at  the  old 
church.  There  were  twenty-odd  professions,  some 
joining  at  the  close  of  the  meeting  and  others 
later.  It  was  under  his  preaching  this  writer 
first  took  Christ  as  this  own  Savior.  The  follow- 
ing baptized  at  close  of  meeting:  Mary  Sikes, 
Baker  Staton,  John  A.  Thomas,  Frances  Avitt, 
G.  Watt  Nash,  William  D.  Morton,  W.  H.  Burns, 
John  Avitt,  Florence  Thomas,  Jessie  P.  Crump. 
This  was  perhaps  the  year  of  the  church's  great- 
est progress.  The  best  building  it  ever  had  was 
put  up ;  many  fine  young  people  had  been  enlisted ; 
more  effort  made  toward  education  and  missions. 

From  November  1882  to  July,  1884,  but  little 
recorded.    B.  E.  Staton  thought  to  be  clerk. 

1884.  The  Anson  Association  alluded  to  for 
the  first  time. 

1885.  January.  Sisters  Eliza  Jane  Teal,  Ida 
Traywick  and  Emma  Bivens  appointed  to  canvass 
the  church  for  Missions  and  Christian  Education. 
1885.  A  long  drawn  out  church  trial  runs  nearly 
through  the  year.  Records  stop  with  July  and 
results  not  given. 

1886.  January.  The  church  trial  continues  till 
the  April  meeting  when  the  offending  brother  is 
excluded.  At  the  September  conference  a  com- 
mittee appointed  to  help  raise  a  fund  to  aid  in 
putting  up  a  monument  to  the  grave  of  Rev.  S. 
P.  Morton  at  Red  Hill  church. 

1887.  Delinquents  still  in  the  land  and  excuses 
made  to  order.     Anson  Union  met  here  in  July. 


River  Baptist  Church  91 

Rev.  H.  W.  Battle  remained  and  did  the  preach- 
ing and  five  united  by  baptism,  the  writer  being 
among  the  number. 

At  the  October  conference  E.  M.  Brooks  elect- 
ed Clerk  and  served  till  and  through  the  year 
1898,  a  period  of  ten  years.  At  the  November 
conference  a  committee  was  appointed  to  raise 
funds  to  paint  the  church. 

1888.  January  conference  appointed  a  com- 
mittee to  let  the  contract  for  ceiling  church.  This 
was  six  years  after  the  church  was  built.  Rev. 
T.  S.  Wright  aided  in  the  July  meeting.  Monroe 
Burns  and  Lilly  Kendall  joined  by  baptism. 

1889.  Rev.  A.  Marsh  called,  but  could  not 
take  charge  as  pastor  till  March.  The  Senior 
Deacon  Uriah  Staton  and  brother  D.  J.  High  died 
before  the  March  meeting. 

At  the  July  meeting  brother  J.  E.  Efird  elect- 
ed and  ordained  deacon  to  fill  vacancy  caused  by 
death  of  Bro.  Staton.  September,  the  matter  of 
painting  brought  up  and  further  postponed.  It 
was  done  later. 

June,  1890.  Following  the  Union  meeting  the 
church  was  dedicated.  Rev.  J.  K.  Fant,  pastor  at 
Wades'boro,  preached  the  sermon. 

October  Conference  appointed  D.  Hancock,  J. 
W.  Burns  and  S.  H.  McLendon  to  investigate  title 
to  the  school  house  lot.  December  conference  or- 
dered it  to  be  sold.  So  it  is  seen  the  church 
campus  covered  the  school  lot  also. 

1891.  A.  C.  Davis,  pastor.  The  October  con- 
ference discontinued  the  Rule  requiring  excuses 
from  the  brethren  for  absences. 

At  the  November  Conference  a  brother  was 
excluded  for  marrying  a  divorced  woman,  and, 
"Thereby  violating  the  Biblical  Law  of  Matri- 
mony."    This  is  the  only  case  on  the  records  of 


92  History  of  The  Rocky 

the   church.     There  were   a  number  of  charges 
for  drunkeness  and  some  exclusions. 

1892.  January.  No  services.  Cause  not 
given.  February,  preaching  on  Saturday.  Sun- 
day, high  waters  prevented  pastor  and  people 
from  getting  to  church.  There  were  no  bridges 
then  across  either  of  the  streams  surrounding  the 
church. 

We  first  find  mention  made  of  a  Sunday  School 
Convention  in  1891  and  1892.  Their  custom  was 
to  meet  the  first  5th  Sunday  and  Saturday  after 
January.  This  date  was  set  to  insure  a  Spring 
meeting. 

June,  1892.  Pastor  Davis  brought  young 
Bro.  James  Long,  of  Union  County,  who  preached 
on  the  Sabbath. 

July  Meeting,  1892.  Pastor  had  Rev.  J.  L. 
Bennett  as  help  in  the  meeting.  He  was  very 
acceptable  to  the  people  and  there  was  a  fruit- 
ful meeting.  Mrs.  Eliza  Lee,  Miss  Lela  Goodman 
and  Cecil  Teal  joined  by  baptism. 

October,  1892.  Rev.  J.  L.  Bennett  called  as 
pastor  for  next  year.  The  salary  was  set  at  $80, 
the  highest  ever  promised  up  to  that  time. 

1893,  January.  A  deep  snow  prevented  any 
service. 

February.  Church  discussed  the  plan  of  pay- 
ing the  pastor  quarterly.  It  must  have  been 
adopted  as  they  raised  $17  on  the  spot.  This 
was  a  forward  step. 

March.  Conference  appointed  delegates  to 
meet  with  the  Anson  Ex.  Com.  to  consider  the 
advisability  of  again  uniting  with  the  Richmond 
churches  in  reforming  the  old  Pee  Dee  Associa- 
tion. 

May  Conference,  1893.  A  very  serious  mat- 
ter sprang  up  between  a  good  sister  and  one  of 


Kiver  Baptist  Church  93 

the  male  members.  The  sister  had  been  offended 
and  out  of  tins  grew  the  more  serious  charge 
with  which  she  was  not  directly  connected.  It 
was  long  drawn  out  and  fought  hard  on  both  sides. 
The  church  appointed  J.  E.  Efird,  D.  Hancock  and 
J.  C.  Carpenter  a  committee  to  handle  the  case. 
So  faithful  were  their  services  that  at  the  close 
pf  the  trial  a  resolution  of  thanks  was  offered 
them  by  the  church.  The  brother  was  put  on 
his  good  behavior  and  retained  for  the  time.  He 
was  soon  charged  for  another  offense,  for  which 
he  was  excluded  and  died  out  of  the  church. 

Annual  meeting  July,  1893.  The  meeting  was 
productive  of  much  good.  Several  un-named  can- 
didates received  for  baptism  and  some  by  letter. 
At  the  September  meeting  Sarah  Ann  Furr  and 
D.  Lee  Thompson  joined  and  were  baptized  with 
those  who  had  joined  in  July.  Pastor  declined  to 
serve  the  church  on  his  present  salary,  and  Rev. 
G.  0.  Wilhoit  elected  for  1894. 

October  conference  was  fruitful  of  still  other 
additions  as  follows:  Lutie  H.  High,  Jennie  B. 
Staton,  Rosa  Furr,  Ola  Perry,  Edgar  M.  Davis. 
These  were  baptized  on  the  Sabbath. 

September,  1894.  The  church  in  conference 
appointed  W.  H.  Bivens,  H.  M.  Baker  and  the 
Clerk,  E.  M.  Brooks  to  select  a  suitable  site  for  a 
burying  ground  to  be  used  by  the  church.  At 
the  November  conference  the  Committee  stated 
they  had  selected  a  site  beyond  the  old  church 
site  for  the  burying  ground.    Report  adopted. 

1895.  Missions  mentioned  often  and  subscrip- 
tions taken.  This  work  was  done  mostly  by  per- 
sonal solicitation.  It  was  a  hard  and  thankless 
task.  How  much  better  the  present  use  of  en- 
velopes. 

The   church  was   having   some   trouble   with 


94  History  of  The  Rocky 

absentees.  Bro.  J.  C.  Carpenter  stated  he  was 
dissatisfied  with  one  of  the  rules  of  Decorum. 
The  church  agreed  to  consider  this  at  next  meet- 
ing. The  particular  rule  though  not  stated  on 
the  minutes  was,  "If  any  brother  charged  with 
drunkenness  or  any  other  immoral  conduct  shall 
at  the  first  deny  the  charge,  but  when  finally 
proven  on  him  makes  confession,  this  late  and 
forced  confession  shall  not  he  valid."  The  church 
elected  its  first  sexton  at  this  conference.  Bro. 
E.  M.  Davis  was  the  first  victim,  and  at  the  July 
conference  sent  up  the  keys  with  his  resignation. 
Bro.  Cecil  Teal  was  elected  his  successor  at  a 
salary  of  $3  a  year.  How  long  he  served  is  not 
stated.  Also  at  this  conference  is  recorded  the 
following:  "Bro.  E.  M.  Brooks  absenting  himself 
from  the  house,  the  church  voted  to  liberate  him 
to  exercise  his  gifts  in  advocating  the  cause  of 
Christ  as  held  by  Missionary  Baptists  as  the  Lord 
may  direct  him.'.' 

July  meeting,  1895.  Pastor  assisted  by  Rev. 
J.  P.  Boyd,  then  of  Polkton,  conducted  the  meet- 
ing with  the  following  results:  Jesse  N.  Parker, 
Bertha  Gaddy  and  Clyde  Bivens  received  by  bap- 
tism. 

October,  1895.  Maud  Thomas,  Ollie  Lee  and 
Mary  Staton  joined  by  baptism.  E.  M.  Brooks 
resigned  as  S.  S.  Superintendent  after  a  service 
of  eight  consecutive  years. 

November.    Some  church  trials  and  exclusions. 

December.  More  delinquents  and  one  exclu- 
sion. 

1896.  January  finds  G.  0.  Wilhoit  pastor. 
One  more  exclusion.  Bro.  H.  M.  Efird  joined  by 
letter  from  Palmerville  where  he  had  attended 
school. 

April.     B.  P.   Murray  joined  by  letter  from 


River  Baptist  Church  95 

Norwood. 

May.  T.  B.  Goodman,  J.  C.  Carpenter  and 
wife,  sister  M.  E.  Carpenter  granted  letters  to 
unite  with  Polkton  church. 

June.  E.  M.  Brooks  conducted  services  in  the 
absence  of  the  pastor.     No  'business. 

July.  Rev.  C.  R.  Hairfield,  a  ministerial  stu- 
dent from  Wake  Forest  preached. 

"Note.  Brother  Hairfield  is1  supplying  for 
Bro.  Wilhoit  during  the  summer  on  account  of  his 
health  not  being  good."  Bro.  Hairfield  after 
graduation  soon  accepted  work  in  a  Texas  col- 
lege and  was  never  among  us  again.  The  people 
held  him  in  the  highest  regards. 

October.  J.  E.  Efird,  J.  W.  Burns  and  Cecil 
Teal  appointed  delegates  to  the  Association.  G. 
0.  Wilhoit  again  called  for  1897;  "provided  his 
health  fails  we  will  accept  Rev.  C.  R.  Hairfield  as 
supply." 

1897.  The  year  opens  with  Bro.  Wilhoit  serv- 
ing as  pastor. 

February  and  March.  "No  conferences  on 
account  of  high  waters.    Clerk." 

July  Meeting.  Pastor  assisted  by  Charles  T. 
Ball.  Eight  joined  by  baptism  and  two  by  letter. 
Bro.  Ball  was  located  on  a  field  in  Anson  and  at 
this  time  was  living  in  Morven.  He  soon  moved 
to  Wadesboro  and  became  joint  editor  of  one  of 
the  county  papers,  though  continuing  to  serve 
churches. 

September.  Preston  Hogan  received  by  letter 
from  Bethel  church,  Montgomery  County.  Bro. 
Ball  elected  pastor  for  next  year.  Time  changed 
to  4th  Sabbaths  in  order  to  adjust  the  work  on 
the  Field. 

November  4th  Saturday.  Brother  James  Mc- 
Ray,  of  Wadesboro,  filled  Bro.  Ball's  appointment. 


History  of  The  Rocky 


1898.  Pastor  Ball  enters  his  second  pastoral 
year. 

March.  W.  H.  Bivens  and  G.  W.  Nash  elected 
deacons. 

May  Conference.  At  this  conference  brother 
J.  E.  Efird  read  a  letter  from  Pleasant  Hill  church, 
Union  County,  requesting  the  ordination  of  E.  M. 
Brooks  to  the  ministry  as  he  had  been  supplying 
them  for  some  time.  This  request  was  granted 
and  the  5th  Sunday  in  July  set  as  the  date.  Rev. 
J.  Q.  Adams  and  C.  T.  Ball  composed  the  Presby- 
tery and  the  ordination  took  place  Wednesday, 
August  the  3rd,  1898,  which  was  one  of  the  week 
days  towards  the  close  of  the  revival. 

During  the  week  the  Free  Scholarship  in  the 
Pee  Dee  Institute  was  given  to  Cecil  Teal  and 
he  entered  that  fall.  Also,  "E.  M.  Brooks  was 
requested  to  get  up  all  the  facts  he  could  in  re- 
gard to  the  early  history  of  this  church." 

August.  The  following  united  with  the  church 
and  were  baptized  on  Sunday:  S.  M.  Efird,  J.  D. 
High,  Emmerson  High,  Mary  High,  and  Leona 
McLendon. 

September.  Sisters  Rosanna  High,  of  Beaver 
Dam  (Marshviile),  and  Lucy  Teal,  from  Red 
Hill,  joined. 

Bro.  Ball  having  resigned,  the  church  set  a 
called  meeting  for  the  2nd  Sunday.  Pastor  Ball 
seems  to  have  served  till  June  1899,  when  B.  H. 
Matthews  took  charge  and  continued  through 
1901. 

1900.  February  Conference.  E.  G.  Waddell 
resigned  as  clerk  and  D.  L.  Thompson  elected  to 
take  his  place. 

1900.  May  Conference.  Painting  of  the  church 
reported  finished  at  a  cost  of  $67.60. 

1901.  October  Conference.     B.  H.  Matthews 


River  Baptist  Church  97 

resigned  as  pastor  and  E.  M.  Brooks  granted  a 
letter  to  unite  with  Union  Grove  church,  Stanly 
County. 

1901,  December.  Rev.  C.  J.  Black  takes  charge 
as  pastor. 

1902.  Bro.  Black  is  still  pastor.  In  June  of 
this  year  an  organ  is  mentioned  for  the  first  time. 
There  was  a  fruitful  meeting  this  year.  Brother 
Black  was  a  great  revivalist  here  as  every  where 
he  served.  The  following  joined  this  year:  Wal- 
ter Nance,  Paul  Efird,  Hufham  Bivens,  Marcus 
Mills,  Robert  H.  Thomas,  Lorena  Woodard,  Esther 
Mills  and  Pearle  Caudle. 

1905.  Rev.  J.  L.  Bennett  enters  his  second 
pastorate  here.     Serves  only  one  year. 

1906.  Rev.  G.  0.  Wilhoit  takes  care  of  the 
church  for  one  year. 

1907.  Rev.  R.  D.  Redfearn  becomes  pastor. 
At  the  May  conference  some  matter  concerning 
the  Pee  Dee  Institute  was  postponed.  It  was 
proba'bly  the  question  of  suspending  the  Institute 
and  selling  the  property  to  the  State  for  a  graded 
school.    Rev.  Josiah  Crudup  aided  in  the  meeting. 

October.  Bro.  W.  H.  Bivens  and  family  grant- 
ed letters  as  they  were  moving  near  Cottonville, 
Stanly  county. 

December.  J.  T.  Garris  and  D.  L.  Thompson 
elected  deacons. 

1908.  Bro.  Redfearn  continues  as  pastor.  Rev. 
T.  W.  Chambliss  assisted  in  protracted  meeting  in 
July.  Results  good  as  follows :  Ramon  McSwain, 
Henry  Baker,  Jr.,  Willie  Helms,  Annie  Efird,  Bon- 
nie Efird,  Bettie  McSwain,  Lillie  Ramsey,  Fannie 
Lee  Hyatt,  Marie  Hancock  joined  by  baptism. 

From  December,  1908  to  1919  the  records  give 
but  little  information.  D.  L.  Thompson  drops 
out  as  clerk.     The  pastors  through  this  period 


98  History  of  The  Rocky 

of  eleven  years  were  thought  to  be  somewhat  in 
the  following  order: 

1909  to  1910,  E.  C.  Snider;  1911  to  1912,  J. 
W.  Nobles;  1913  to  1918,  unknown;  1919  to  1921, 
C.  C.  Burris;  1922  A.  C.  Davis;  1923  to  1924,  E. 
C.  Snider;  1925,  possibly  C.  H.  Martin;  1926,  J.  S. 
Tyson ;  1927,  E.  M.  Brooks.  This  ends  the  hours, 
even  days,  among  the  "Minutes." 


River  Baptist  Church  99 


DIRECTORY 


Here  will  be  gathered  for  convenient  refer- 
ence in  Listed  or  Tabulated  form  items  of  inter- 
est concerning  Pastors,  Deacons,  Church  Clerks, 
Visiting  Ministers  of  Prominence,  and  other 
Worthwhile  Matters,  and  last  of  all  Copy  of  the 
Oldest  Church  Roll  and  a  Completed  Roll  brought 
well  night  up  to  date. 

Pastors — With  Date  of  Service. 

1776  to  1790 No  Record 

1790 Edmond  Lilly 

1791  to  1841 John  Culpeper,  Sr. 

1841 S.  P.  Morton 

1842-1844   William  A.  Morris 

1845 Dwight  Hayes 

1846-1874 S.  P.  Morton  (2nd  time) 

1875 C.  C.  Foreman 

1876-1877 A.  C.  Davis 

1878-1879   E.  L.  Davis 

1880 J.  W.  Pbifer 

1881-1888 " G.  0.  Wilhoit 

1889-1890 Augustus  Marsh 

1891-1892   A.  C.  Davis 

1893 J.  L.  Bennett 

1894-1897 G.  O.  Wilhoit  (2nd  time) 

1898-1899 C.  T.  Ball 

1900-1901 B.  H.  Matthews 

1902-1904 C.  J.  Black 

1905 J.  L.  Bennett   (2nd  time) 

1906 G.  O.  Wilhoit  (3rd  time) 

1907-1908 R.  D.  Redfearn 

1909-1910 E.  C.  Snider 

1911-1912 J.  W.  Nobles 


100  History  of  The  Rocky 

1913-1918 J.  A.  Summey 

1919-1921 C.  C.  Burris 

1922 A.  C.  Davis  (3rd  time) 

1923-1924 E.  C.  Snider  (2nd  time) 

1925 C.  M.  Martin  (not  sure) 

1926 J.  S.  Tyson 

1927 E.  M.  Brooks,  present  pastor  (1928) 

It  will  be  seen  from  the  above  list  that  the 
church  had  22  known  pastors.  Of  these  there 
were  three  long  termers — John  Culpeper  50  years ; 
S.  P.  Morton  29  years;  G.  0.  Wilhoit  13  years, 
making  a  total  of  92  years,  or  more  than  half 
the  church's  history. 


The  Deacons  and  Clerks. 
Deacons : 
John  Allen  W.  H.  Bivens 

James  Benton  G.  W.  Nash 

Robert  N   Allen  E   G.  Wadden 

Uriah  Staton 

J.  E.  Efird  J*  i"  (jarris 

J.  W.  Burns  D-  L-  Thompson 

Clerks : 

Wyatt  Nance Resigned,   1828 

Amon  Yarborough Moved  to  Ala.  1832 

James   Benton   1832-1842 

W.  J.  Williams 1842-1844 

James  Broadaway 1844-1875 

S.  H.  McLendon 1878-1882 

W.  H.  Bivens 1883-1887 

E.  M.  Brooks 1888-1898 

E.  G.  Waddell 1899 

D.  L.  Thompson __  1900 

Earle  Thompson "_  1919 — 

There  were  possibly  more  deacons  and  clerks 
than  the  records  show.  The  gap  between  1900 
and  1919  in  the  list  of  clerks  was  partly  filled 


River  Baptist  Church 


101 


by  B.  E.  Staton,  C.  L.  Waddell  and  others,  but  the 
records  were  so  indefinite  the  writer  could  not 
tabulate  them. 


Visiting 

Prominent  ministers 
and  preached  on  special 
Jonathan  Davis 
Jonathan  Wilkinson 
James  M.  Thomas 
Samuel  Ducenberry 
Jesse  Wheeler 
N.  B.  Cobb 
J.  B.  Richardson 
J.  R.  Griffith 
Edmond  Morton 
J.  J.  McLendon 
W.  G.  Rollins 


Ministers. 

who  visited  the  church 

occasions : 

John  E.  King 

W.  B.  Harrell 

N.  R.  Pittman 

H.  W.  Battle 

P.  H.  Parnell 

J.  K.  Fant 

J.  F.  Love 

T.  S.  Wright 

James  Long 

P.  C.  Connelly 


The  following  is  the  old  church  Roll  as  it  was 
in  1828 — one  hundred  years  ago.  It  is  given  just 
as  it  appears  on  the  book.  It  is  not  arranged  in 
alphabetical  order. 

White  Males: 


John  Culpeper 
James  Atkins 
Jeremiah  Smith 
William  Benton 
Wiyat  Nance 
John  Brooks 
Amon  Yarborough 
John  Beverly 
Thomas  Allen 
John  Allen 
William   Carpenter 
Joseah  Ponds 


Abia  Atkins 
Robertson  Pistole 
Charles  Taylor 
John  Gilbert 
Joel  Ledbetter 
Richard  Stoker 
Job  Calloway 
John  Curlee 
Isaac  Bayles 
Jonathan  McDonald 
John  Watson 
Bryan  Jones 


White  Females 


102 


History  of  The  Rocky 


Amy  Marshall 
Sarah  Avet 
Sary  Thompson 
Sary  Sparks 
Sophia  Ingram 
Elizabeth  Lilly 
Mary  Culpeper 
Sarah  Lee 
Elizabeth  Pistole 
Patsy  Allen 
Elizabeth  Yarborough 
Nancy  Allen 
Sarah  Benton 
Seley  Benton 
Mary  Benton 
Nicey  Moore 
Sarah  Edwards 
Macey  Lee 
Mary  Ponds  ,. 

Faney  Beverly 
Milly  Dixson 
Elizabeth  Goodson 
Nancy  Watson 
Patsy  Watson 
Mary  Sasser 
Lydia  Ledbetter 
Catherine  Bowman 
Susanna  Baucomb 
Elizabeth  Calloway 

Black 
Hany  Clark 
Ralf  Freeman 
Dartor  Solomon 
Legrand's  Thomas 
Lillies  Jack 
Dumas's  Moses 
Lanier's  Toney 


Patsy  Forrest 
Elizabeth  Forrest 
Sely  Howell 
Sarah  Huckaby 
Nancy  McDaniel 
Patsy  Palmer 
Sarah  Sikes 
Mary  Hudson 
Patsy  Smith 
Anna  Smith 
Celey  Folks 
Sally  Randle 
Sarah  Creps 

Taylor 

Jane  Weaver 

Jones 

Nancy  Ragsdale 
Sinthea  Clenny 

Woodward 

Abigail  Caudle 
Elizabeth  Davis 
Seley  Turner 
Rhoda  Reimer 
Mary  Stoker 
Rachal  Beverly 
Elizabeth  Billingly 
Rebecca  Sikes 
Pheneby  Brantly 
Males : 
Steel's  Joe 
N.  Hearn's  Bill 
Ingram's   Davey 
Capel's  Jacob 
Rusel's  Abraham 
Staton's  Mack 
Wyatt  Nance's 


River  Baptist  Church 


103 


Watson's  Daniel 

Black 
Candice 
Lillie'  Judey 
Hogan's  Sally 
Nance's  Lucky 
Lanier's  Nelly 
Hough's  Pleasant 
Genny  Freeman 
Mendingal's  Ginna 
Boggan's  Darkes 
Dargan's  Cate 
Voluntine's   Hannah 
Threadgil's  Cassle 
Randol's  Judith 


Benjamin 
Females : 
Wm  Lee's  Rose 
Moses's  Vilet 
Ingram's  Presilla 
Elizabeth  Davis's  Aely 
Mask's  Lucida 
Lucy  Ingram's 

Molly 
Bro.  Uriah  Staton's 

Betty 
Fred  Staton's 

Sarah 
U.  Staton's  Mariah 


The  following  is  a  later  list  including  heads 
of  families  who  once  were  members  but  long  since 
dead. 

Males : 

Jones,  Alexander 


Allen,  David 
Allen,  Robert  N. 
Allen,  W.  H. 
Avitt,  Thomas 
Avitt,  John 
Barber,  Noah 
Baucom,  Wiley 
Broadaway,  Jeremiah 
Broadaway,  James 
Broadaway,  Hartwell 
Broadaway,  James  M. 
Bryant,  Ransom 
Brooks,  Cullen 
Burleyson,  Jonathan 
Boswell,  Alexander 
Burns,  J.  W. 
Culpeper,  John,  Jr. 


Jones,  Wiley 
Kendall,   H.  D. 
Lee,  Shepard 
Lee,  Simeon 
Lilly,  Armistead 
McLendon,  S.  H. 
McLendon,  John 
Mask,  James  G. 
Morton,  S.  P. 
Morton,  G.  A. 
Newsom,  Ephriam 
Nash,  G.  W. 
Parker,  J.  B. 
Pistol,  Edward 
Poplin,  Richard 


104     History  of  The  Rocky  River  Baptist  Churcfi 


Curlee,  Mariner 
Curlee,  William 
Crump,  George 
Dargan,  William 
Davis,  D.  D. 
Davis,  Hampton 
Hill,  J.  P. 
Hill,  Julius 
Hancock,  Devotion 
Howard,  Myrick 
Howard,  Malichi 
Hudson,  Even 
Hudson,  Joshua 
Hooks,  Andrew 

A  Roll 
Polly  Allen 
Eliza  Allen 
Nancy  Avitt 
Louisa  Brooks 
Frances  Burns 
Louisa  Crump 
Elizabeth  Davis 
Annie  Efird 
Cornelia  Goodman 
Leah  Hancock 
Ann  M.  Harris 
Jane  Lee 
Eliza  Lee 


Poplin,  J.  F. 
Porter,  Alexander 
Ramsey,  Clement 
Ramsey,  Stark 
Staton,  Uriah 
Staton,  B.  E. 
Staton,  Ennis 
Smith,  Thomas 
Tolson,  Carey 
Turner,  Ausborn 
Tomlinson,  J.  M. 
Tyson,  Uriah 
Williams,  W.  J. 
Waddell,  W.  A. 
our  Mothers: 
Rowena  Lee 

"Margaret  Lanier 
Dolly  Lanier 
Sofronia  McLendon 
Ann  Morton 
Sallie  Perry 
Rhoda  Staton 
Eliza  Teal 
Eliza  Turner 
Martha  J.  Turner 
Laura  Turner 
Lucy  Waddell 


Date  Due 

FORM   335     45M      10-41 

Div.S.   286 


B873H 


121606 


